Some lifts at some stations on London's new Elizabeth Line will go sideways, not straight up, due to their diagonal design that is cheaper to build and will save on energy.
The new east-to-west Crossrail line will eventually link Heathrow to south-east London and add an additional 10 per cent to the underground's capacity.
London's transport bosses on Wednesday finally announced operations would commence on May 24, nearly four years after the line was initially planned to open.
Prospective riders have been particularly impressed by four new incline lifts installed at Farringdon and Liverpool Street stations.
Images show how the lifts move sideways alongside the escalators rather than vertically.
Engineers say the design negates the need for the costly excavation of a lift shaft and will reduce power consumption by nearly 50 per cent.
Transport for London (TfL) said the installation of the sideways lifts are part of its promise to provide step-free access on all 41 stations on the new Elizabeth Line.
It is not the first time that the sloping design has been put into action on London's transport network.
Sideways lifts were first installed at Greenford Station on the Central Line in 2015 when TfL realised the benefits of the diagonal design.
“The new incline lift is spacious, quick, and provides much-needed step-free access to our customers at Greenford”, said London Underground's Director of Engineering.
“It is cheaper to install and cheaper to run and I am hopeful we can introduce this innovation elsewhere on the Tube network in the future.”
Crossrail added: “All Crossrail stations in central London will have step-free access from street to train. The new incline lifts offer an added benefit by allowing groups travelling together to have passengers with wheelchairs, buggies or large baggage to take an incline lift while friends and family take an escalator directly alongside.”
Crossrail was initially scheduled to open in December 2018 but its opening was help up by construction setbacks and issues with safety testing and signalling systems.
London's Elizabeth line to finally open in May — in pictures
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The Elizabeth line map. The line from Paddington to Canary Wharf ends further east in Abbey Wood. TfL -
The Elizabeth line runs from Reading and Heathrow Airport on the western ends and Shenfield and Abbey Wood on the eastern ends. TfL -
London’s long-delayed multibillion-pound Crossrail project will partially open to customers on May 24. Getty Images -
Twelve trains an hour will run in the initial launch, from Paddington to Abbey Wood, from Monday to Saturday. PA -
The Elizabeth line, previously known as Crossrail, is London's new cross-town rail link stretching from Reading, west of the UK capital, to Shenfield in the east. Getty Images -
A disabled access point on the platform of the Elizabeth line at Paddington Station in London, England. Getty Images -
A section of the line passes through central London, underground between Liverpool Street and Paddington. Getty Images -
A contactless payment point at the gates to the Elizabeth line at Paddington Station. Getty Images -
Decorative tiles inspired by 19th-century civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel in a corridor leading to the Elizabeth line at Paddington Station. Getty Images -
Symmetrical lighting units in the ceiling at the Paddington Station entrance. Getty Images -
An Elizabeth line train is driven from Paddington to Canary Wharf Station. PA -
Signage for the railway. PA -
Volunteer 'passengers' walk through ticket gates during a test run. AFP -
Volunteers board a carriage during the test run. AFP -
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said the Elizabeth line will make London "safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous". AFP -
The opening of the line comes as Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee year. AFP -
A Transport for London employee stands on the platform at the Canary Wharf Elizabeth line Station. PA
