A Cab Ride Through The Elizabeth Line Tunnels 

Seriously experienced driver with an extremely relaxed nature keeping Geoff entertained hearing questions he's probably had lots of times.

WOW! I was impressed how Keith the Driver casually pushed buttons and let the computers do all the work, while he answered all your questions!! Modern technology at its very best! Good vid, Geoff!

1:13 CBTC stands for communication based train control, not computer based. It works by having trains communicate their position and speed to the control centre, which communicates to trains how fast they can go based on this. Pretty much all signalling these days is computer based, the signalling on main lines with lights is done by computerised systems, but that isn't CBTC.

Of all the things I’ve seen Geoff pull off, this seems awesome! Also, a great explainer on the signalling systems 👏🏽

One thing about traveling on the new central section, is that it’s difficult to get a feel for the speed you’re traveling at, the track is so incredibly smooth compared to the tube lines.

Keith was excellent giving detailed answer to your questions, very interesting. Keith really know Ed his job.

Awesome job, Geoff! Can’t wait to finish the video! I am always excited for your new videos, they make my day❤!

Awesome video! It’s very interesting to see the drivers perspective on driving the 345, more of a life as a driver. Looking to complete the full part of this journey video!

Yes! A much-needed Elizabeth Cab Ride. A highlight of this channel. Well done

This is the most creative and intriguing interview I have seen, Geoff, you’ve done it again 👏🏼❤

Geoff I cannot thank you more for your videos especially this one. I've always wanted to see what the driver can see when he drives the train. I have always loved buses and trains myself so this video was really helpful for me so thank you. Looking forward for the future videos man. 👍👍

Great video Geoff. This is a fascinating view of what goes on in the driver's cab. Also your interviewing skills are excellent.

Fabulous interview, on the move. 👏👏

Another fantastic video. You were in good company with Keith (I know him) he is someone who definitely has the knowledge for the role he has. As he told me, he started on the railway back in British Rail days.

I'm thrilled that we have CBTC spreading to more lines here in NYC -- the trains really do run better that way.

Great video and a great interview with Keith - he clearly knows the whole system like the back of his hand. Very reassuring to see the knowledge and professionalism of the drivers.

Actually CBTC stands for *Communications* -Based Train Control. The point is that the train receives its movement authority (i.e. how fast/far it can go) via direct communications (e.g. radio) rather than via signals at predefined locations.

Very interesting about the Elizabeth line . Thank you.

That was a lot more interesting than the title implied it was going to be. I thought it would be just the tunnel walls rushing by, the chat to the driver made it much better. Thanks Geoff

Excellent video Geoff! I've read around the Elizabeth Line signalling and control features in Modern Railways, the Railway Magazine etc.; and there's so much detail in all that. But nothing shows the general nature of the line as lucidly as this does. Thanks!🙂

Great to see and hear Keith Valla. I had the pleasure of joining him in the cab from Stratford to Paddington, through to Westbourne sidings and then back to Shenfield. A lovely gentleman and very entertaining, as was Keith Baker, my chaperone. We also experienced a failure coming into one of the station in the central core. The train stopped short of the stop point and I witnessed Keith contacting control, explaining the situation and receiving authorisation to draw forward under manual control. Keith explained that he has to be very slow and delicate, there is only a margin of 150mm to stop or the doors willnot open. If he had gone past that point the train would have had to continue to the next station. It was very interesting to then see the operation from Stratford to Shenfield, where Keith's experience of main line running comes into it's own. Really enjoyed this video Geoff, cheers.

Thank you Geoff. Good to meet you the other night at PDX. Take care & be safe & will continue to follow you despite now leaving the railway next Saturday night to return to my profession in aviation. Sean,MTREL CEA.

Top film Geoff. Full of information. You had the right drive the way he answered all your questions.

I really liked the video Geoff.I love the way how you filmed.This video is the best video you ever filmed.Your such a great person I love watching your videos.I love the view as well.💕

Got really good impressions of that driver, and amazing to know what trains he has driven, having been driving trains for a while. Thank you for this video but will be going straight to the complete one!

Epic Interview! Surprised there is another Elizabth Line/Purple Train video but always welcome.

Congratulations on 300K Subscribers Geoff!!

Fascinating Geoff! Thank you for the video!

Great interview @Geoff Marshall More secrets of the Purple Train!

I had the pleasure of being part of the siemens team on the installation of Trainguard, the CBTC system in use.

Thank you for the video Geoff that was very interesting. Great information about the Elizabeth Line.

Geoff that was an awesome video. Nothing like talking to people who run the trains .... More!

Thanks: an enthusiastic and informative video, which captures a "point-in-time" which was rendered "out-of-date" on November 6th 2022. Once more, the complexities of knitting together three (and more) signalling systems was explained clearly. Thank you for the hard work which brought us this interesting view of "the world beyond the cab door". Mike

Keith's experience shown through in his sublime confidence and being at one with the tech. He was a solid expert interview, Geoff.

Nice to hear the voice of experience here. Wonder if he has a favorite and if that's unique to individual drivers or what. Thanks.

Awesome video as always Geoff. Was soo awesome to watch this Elizabeth Line cab ride! Definitely should do more of those if you get invited into the cabs! Keep up the awesome work and videos #purpletrain 😁

fascinating. we all want to be in the tunnels..! looking forward to the full ride video..

Geoff that was absolutely amazing and so interesting.

Another great video Geoff!

What a nice guy ... feel confident watching him at the controls

Geoff I bumped into you at Embankment on the District line this evening! I couldn’t believe it, I’m not even from London, I wonder what the chances were of us crossing paths! Shame we were passing it would’ve been great to chat to you. Love your videos.

Fantastic video Geoff as always.

You lucky so and so, Geoff - looked very interesting

What a lovely friendly driver Keith is

Thanks Geoff, very interesting.

Brilliant . Thank you.

That was awesome. Visited London for the first time ever this past August, riding the Underground quite a bit. I was very impressed with everything about but unfortunately did not ride the Elizabeth line.

Thanks for the video!

Love Keith's driving history, from driving first generation electrics, with no protection, where you could burn the traction motors out, to this spaceship. I play Train Sim World and have the same tastes - steam, first & second gen diesel & electrics for the challenge and LZB automatic driving just to watch the tech being aware of the hazards ahead and constantly adjusting the braking curve.

Cool! I love your videos, Keep it up!

Very relaxed but professional driver. As a train novice I find this all fascinating. Why are there not sliding doors on all the platforms to prevent accidents and excess wind? Can’t cost that much ? Great video. Thanks.

A great example for driverless trains clearly demonstrated in this video.

Great video Geoff. I was on the Elizabeth Line to Romford yesterday & we had a signal failure and cancelled trains due to the different signalling systems. Not quite perfect, but very good overall. I look forward to your full video of the journey. Take care.

quite interesting, relaxing video too!

Great video and as someone who travels on the Elizabeth line most days its a great insight. One thing though, TPWS and AWS aren't signalling systems- they are safety systems. TCB and Axle counters are the systems used outside the core

Very Cool Geoff. Very Cool. 😀

Apparently, merging systems is a complicated/complex systems. Thanks a lot!

Amazing!

So interesting!!

You should do a video of Keith's heritage bus collection a man of many talents

Amazing insight.

Incredible Geoff

This is pretty cool to see. :)

Great stuff!

Really enjoyed this Geoff. The driver manager seems really cool but what pressure he must be under at all time. Great video yet again 👍

Would be fascinating to have a video of the driver actually driving the train too!

Keith Valla. Good old boy and remember him from old. Absolute font of knowledge

Perhaps Geoff could do a series of riding all the MTR’s railways throughout the world.

The acoustic in TCR, or whether you did the intro and outro to camera sounds very impressive. It would be great to hear some sort of instrumental ensemble play down there.

Great insightful video. I have one minor criticism in that i found both Geoff and the driver talked over each other quite a lot. I understand this may be to fit a lot of content and questions into a small manageable video but sometimes just breath a little! I've noticed this in one or two other videos too. Otherwise keep up the good work.

Can't wait for the 2 minute frequency next year!

You lucky boy Geoff! 😉

Brilliant thanks.

I love the Lizzy Line!

The Elizabeth Line is awesome

I would have loved being able to ask that driver a few questions.

No one's cooler than Keith.

I had a cab ride in 2019 on the eastern section, luckily got to go in a 315 and a 345

Great video. He mentioned Plumstead a few times but it is not on the line so what is that all about?

nice one Geoff

Superb - how does driver know what signals are at if he has to takeover manually, missed that bit?

Those markers are kinda the same of those on the TVM 430 on the HS1 and LGV lines in France.

"Alexa, apply the brakes." "OK, playing 'The Breaks'. " (Plays "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow...)

Strange question but is walking to the Elizabeth line at Liverpool St a long way (walk) through the tunnels? Thanks

A fascinating insight. Do the drivers press a button to put it in automatic mode for the train to drive by itself?

As soon as they open Ealing Broadway, I'm going to use this line, because as someone with mobility issues, this is definitely the train for me, because the Tube is no longer suitable for me to use. The sooner that station is open, the better. Great video. ❤️

Hey Geoff, I’m curious, what happened with the old D stock that was rebuilt, Does the electric train still work?

Jeff Marshall i like you talk about maidhead sidings when stops hear when does go further to reading?

You should do this with the London Underground and the use of the ATO

Sorry Geoff, had to break off from watching this to photograph a blue necked Tanager in Ecuador! The colours thereof remind me of the Elizabeth line colour scheme.... see, there is a connection!

@1:39 I see the DRA, was worried that I might miss it. I like the Paul from the SPAD risks videos, mentioning the DRA.

Awesome. You lucky ...

Asking the question has anyone remained on the Train after the service has terminated, reminds me of the time on a Family trip to London back in 2013, we were on a DLR service going to Bank, my wife got off, but I was a little slower as I was trying to herd our two daughters, who were quite young at that the time, off the train. Watched, in horror, as the doors closed!! Both daughters started crying as the train pulled away. But was fascinating as the train continued for around 50 yards (still on automatic mode!), a load of train staff appeared and cleaned the train around us. After 50 yards the train stopped at the buffers, reversed direction and then we were at Bank's departure platform where we were re-united with mum!!

Lucky man. I drove a steam train in Eastleigh Yard and a main line electric train with passengers - it was a long time ago when I was about 11 or 12 years old.

As usual, you have gripped the train by the horns, Geoff. I was hoping you would bump into the Driver of the Very First Purple Train! One Q; that occurs to me - are the tracks 'tilted' underground to make travelling round the bends around Bond Street more comfortable? Excellent reportage and interview of the laid-back Driver. Michael

Hey Geoff are you coming to NYC when Grand Central Madison opens?

Isn’t CBTC *Communication(s)* based train control, and not Computer, since the trains are communicating between each other? Same thing for 4LM?

Don't they still use ATP on the GWML section from Paddington to Reading or is that now being replaced with ETCS?

Thanks

I want that job! I’m seriously gonna consider this haha 😂