With the Elizabeth Line/Crossrail project due to open to passengers next week, here is a sneak preview of what's behind the barriers at the Tottenham Court Road Station!
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Photograph showing a yellow concertina barrier across the entrance to the Crossrail platforms inside the station](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-KAsaG_.jpeg)
The new station is full of carefully-designed details, designed to reflect the area above ground. Look closely at the rather abstract pattern of dots on the wall panels and you can see it is in fact a stylised map: spot Soho Square and the roundels marking the station entrances.
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Photograph of a shiny red panel with white dots in a grid pattern. There is a square gap in the dots, with an outline of a house shape in the centre, representing Soho Square. Some of the dots are in fact Underground roundels.](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-m2karq.jpeg)
The new tunnels and platforms are full of curves, light, and the distinctive 'totems' which will be a feature of all Elizabeth Line stations. They serve multiple functions including signage and lighting.
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-q_j8BL.jpeg)
The opening of the central section on 24 May 2022 will be a giant step towards completion of a project which began in 2009. When I visited the construction site at Woolwich Arsenal in 2014, it was apparently at its halfway point - but there have been a few delays since then, unsurprising in work of this magnitude. When the line is fully open, it will run from Reading to Shenfield and be over 100km long.
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-fNQnpg.jpeg)
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-blop34.jpeg)
Inside the new Tottenham Court Road station, finding your way through its generous spaces is made easier through some clever colour-coding. The eastern side, with the St Giles Circus entrance, features red glass walls; at the western, Dean Street end they are black.Above our heads, the lights are modelled on stage lights - a reference to the many theatres above.
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-SZsKay.jpeg)
In fact, all that was missing on this visit were the passengers and trains ... but they will soon be here too!
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-rxQhv_.jpeg)
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-QfHY2v.jpeg)
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-tSLjCw.jpeg)
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-35PAnM.jpeg)
![Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line: behind the barriers at Tottenham Court Road](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/703/7030858/elizabeth-line-behind-the-barriers-at-tottenh-L-7RngTZ.jpeg)