Stunning new images of the Crossrail development have been released.

They include aerial views of the east-west rail line, which will be known as the Elizabeth line after the Queen , and is expected to run through central London within two years.

The striking images, which highlight the development against the background, includes Paddington and Old Oak Common.

The Elizabeth Line is resulting in the building of 10 new stations and will deliver a direct connection between all of London’s main employment centres, linking Heathrow with Paddington, the West End, the City and Canary Wharf.

It will stop at West Drayton, Hayes & Harlington, Southall, Hanwell, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway and Acton Main Line .

Simon Wright, Crossrail programme director, said: “These images highlight the extent of Crossrail’s progress. The new Elizabeth line stations are now taking shape with their ticket halls that will serve hundreds of thousands of passengers every single day.

"Below ground, as the fit-out of the stations continues, it’s now possible to get a real sense of how they will look and feel when they open at the end of the 2018.”

Among the images featured are Paddington, where the Elizabeth line station will run along the full length of the existing Paddington Main Line station.

A 90 metre clear opening - a unique feature for an urban underground station design – will be covered by a steel and glass canopy eight metres above the ground that will allow natural light to flood down to the station platforms.

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Another image featured is Old Oak Common, which will act as the main depot for the Elizabeth line.

A fleet of 66 new 200 metre-long trains will feature nine fully interconnected walk-through carriages, air conditioning, CCTV and real-time travel information. Each train will be able to carry up to 1,500 people.

Many of the new stations are now approaching completion, with architectural finishes being installed, while in the tunnels, over three quarters of the permanent track has been laid.

Mark Wild, London Underground managing director, said: “It is great to be able to show the immense progress being made on the Elizabeth line stations.

“Thousands of men and women have been working all over London to build this fantastic new line. It’s a testament to Crossrail Limited who have worked hard to construct the track, stations and ticket halls that our customers will be travelling through from December next year.”

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