The Crossrail team at Bond Street got a royal visit from Her Majesty who ventured 28 metres underground via an industrial lift to say hello to staff and apprentices working on London’s most ambitious transport infrastructure project. The Queen, who in 1969 became the first reigning monarch to ride the London Underground after opening the Victoria Line, took the chance to see how work was progressing on the Crossrail section that will be named Elizabeth in her honour. The route will connect parts of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to Essex.

London’s mayor Boris Johnson said the naming of the line was a fitting tribute to Her Majesty. “Crossrail is already proving a huge success for the UK economy and, as we move closer to bringing this transformative new railway into service, I think it’s truly wonderful that such a significant line for our capital will carry such a significant name from our country.” He adds: “As well as radically improving travel right across our city, the Elizabeth line will provide a lasting tribute to our longest-serving monarch.”

The Queen’s visit also coincided with the unveiling of the new purple line logo that will signify the Crossrail network when it begins operation in December 2018.

When Crossrail becomes operational it is expected that half a million passengers every day will use the service as a fleet of 200m-long trains make their way through 26 miles of tunnels.

Present during the Queen’s visit, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said that given Her Majesty’s “long association with UK transport, it is very fitting that this vital link across our capital will be named the Elizabeth line in her honour. This is an example of British engineering at its best and will transform the way people travel across London and beyond from 2018.”