3.2 Crossrail Ltd and TfL have a clear and comprehensive communications strategy in place to ensure that the public who will benefit from the new railway are aware of when and what Elizabeth line services will be open. Certainty on a specific opening date is what customers and businesses want, and to give everyone the ability to accurately plan for the launch an opening date will only be communicated once there is complete certainty that the railway can open safely and reliably. 3.3 All external communication is clear that the opening window for the Elizabeth line continues to be the first half of 2022. This marks the point at which the central tunnel opens to passengers from Abbey Wood to Paddington. The remaining stages will be delivered in a staged approach. In autumn 2022, services from Reading and Heathrow are due to start operating directly to Abbey Wood. At this time services from Shenfield are due to start operating through to Paddington. The final milestone will see full end to end services from Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east through the central tunnel to Reading and Heathrow in the west open no later than May 2023 to align with National Rail timetable changes. 3.4 There is a comprehensive strategy for communicating the remaining milestones until the Elizabeth line is fully open, which targets customers, businesses and local authorities. This includes the creation of an Elizabeth line launch plan, which is being developed with the department and the Mayor of London’s Office.