Here's the official route map for the Elizabeth Line

Who doesn't love a good map? The London Underground boasts one of the finest around, soon to unveil its shiny new addition, in the form of Crossrail - aka the newly-named Elizabeth Line.

Now, freshly revealed by none other than Queen Liz herself, comes the first 'official' map for the line. Even though it looks exactly as you'd expect, there's still a certain thrill of seeing it 'in the flesh' for the first time.

Maybe we like maps too much. Cartogra-crazy.

Anyway, you can now see the final form of the line: due to open in December 2018 travelling from Reading and Heathrow in the West, joining at Hayes & Harlington, speeding its way through central London before splitting out at Whitechapel in the East, heading out to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood.

Twenty four new 656 foot-long trains with nine carriages (all air-conditioned) will operate on the line and will either make travelling across London much easier, or simply encourage yet more people to invade the capital - depending on your point of view. At the very least, it should - pray to God - reduce the current passenger congestion on the Central Line to something below hell-on-earth.

The Liverpool Street to Shenfield route will 'open' in May next year (although in reality, all that means is that the existing trainline will now additionally stop at Whitechapel) with Central London tunnels operating from December 2018, with the full service beginning in December 2019.

(Image: Rex)