The Elizabeth line has surpassed 500 million journeys, showcasing its impact on housing and jobs in the South-East since its launch.
London: The Elizabeth line has officially hit the milestone of 500 million passengers since it opened just over two years ago. That’s a huge number! This announcement came with some interesting research showing how the £20 billion line has really helped boost housing and job opportunities in the South-East. It’s now the most popular rail line in the UK.
Transport for London shared that the Elizabeth line, often called the “Lizzie line,” has the highest customer satisfaction among all its transport options, with over 80% of riders giving it a thumbs up. Passengers love the shorter journey times and fewer transfers, which are the top reasons they choose this line.
In the current year, about one in eight journeys on the TfL network is on the Elizabeth line, which runs from Shenfield and Abbey Wood all the way to Heathrow and Reading, passing through central London. On weekdays alone, around 770,000 trips are made on this line.
The branch from Canary Wharf to Abbey Wood has really changed the game for connectivity in south-east London. Journey times have nearly halved, making it much quicker to get around. For instance, the trip from Canary Wharf to Abbey Wood now takes just 26 minutes instead of 49.
According to the research, there’s been an 11% increase in job access on the Abbey Wood branch and a 6% boost on the Heathrow branch. Abbey Wood has also seen a 6% rise in new homes, which is great news for the area.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. The line has faced some reliability issues, especially west of Paddington, mainly because the trains are running on older Network Rail tracks that need upgrades.
Interestingly, about 62% of the people using the Elizabeth line would have otherwise taken the London Underground. The rest are folks who might have driven, taken a bus, or even walked. So, it’s definitely encouraging more people to travel.
With its popularity, Liverpool Street has become the busiest railway station in the UK, followed closely by Paddington. The report from Arup noted some early signs of positive socio-economic impacts, like job growth and new business opportunities, but they’ll need more time to fully assess the situation.
The Elizabeth line’s nine-carriage trains can hold around 1,500 passengers, assuming all seats are filled and some are standing. However, the morning rush can get pretty crowded, especially between Whitechapel and Liverpool Street.
Kay Buxton, from The Paddington Partnership, mentioned that the Elizabeth line has really boosted London’s office market post-Covid, especially in Paddington, which saw a 150% increase in office deals. It’s clear that the line has made a big difference in the area.
Christofi Christou, president of the South East London Chamber of Commerce, added that feedback from local businesses, especially around Thamesmead, has been overwhelmingly positive since the Elizabeth line came to Abbey Wood.
