… AND PRIDE AT PADDINGTON

OUTSIDE Paddington station, the queue stretched back towards Praed Street, along what was once the taxi rank. At 5.30am, hundreds of people were standing eagerly and every one had a smile on their face. “When is it going to open?” asked Alexander, 10, from Islington. At 6.20am he got his wish. The metal gates of the Elizabeth line station rolled back and a huge cheer went up from the crowd.

Down the escalators they surged, filling the 200-metre platform. More cheers came as the platform announcer said the first Elizabeth line train to

Abbey Wood had arrived.

Outside, at the front of the queue, Josh, 11, a schoolboy from Ealing, had been presented with the first Elizabeth line commemorative mug by TfL commissioner Andy Byford. He had arrived at 4.48am with his parents. He said: “It’s really exciting. Is the Queen coming? I love this line — it’s amazing.” Alexander could barely contain his excitement. “It’s the first train and I want to see it,” he said. “I have liked trains since I was seven. I have already seen the trains but I can’t wait to see them run as the Elizabeth line.”

Paul Jubb travelled yesterday from Birmingham and stayed overnight in a hotel. But he was up at 4am. “There is no day like opening day,” he said.

Vincent Keaveny, the Lord Mayor of London, who travelled from Farringdon to Liverpool Street and back, said: “I don’t think people realise the impact it’s going to have on our sense of the size of London and the connectivity — the speed with which we will be able to get from one part of London to another.”

Mark Wild, the Crossrail chief executive, who had travelled on the first train from Abbey Wood, said: “I have never been on a happier train.”