A direct, seamless journey between Heathrow Airport and the Canary Wharf business district: that's what the Elizabeth Line will provide. from Sunday 6 November. Opened at the end of May ahead of the Queen of England's Golden Jubilee celebrations, this super S-Bahn had already revolutionised public transport in London. It required the British government to dig some twenty tunnels and create a dozen new stations, at a cost of £9 billion, the line now crosses Greater London from West to East.
Although the line has recorded more than 200,000 daily journeys since it opened, this fast route through the British capital still requires passengers to change trains in central London. Passengers arriving from Heathrow or Reading, for example, will have to exit at Paddington station, then walk to the new Paddington Elizabeth Line station to continue their journey. Conversely, if they are travelling from Shenfield in Essex, they will have to change at Liverpool Street station.
These disadvantages will be eliminated at the beginning of November with the linking the various lines to the central tunnels of the Elizabeth Line. Business travellers will no longer need to get out at Paddington or Liverpool to complete their journey. Only journeys to and fromHeathrow or to Reading, will require a change of train, but on the same platform and at any station in central London. People landing at the airport will now be able to travel directly through central London to Canary Wharf in just 51 minutes on weekdays and 45 minutes at weekends, while it takes just 17 minutes to get to the business district from Paddington station.
" This is an important step in strengthening rail links to the UK's hub airport, with a direct link to Canary Wharf at Heathrow by rail for the first time" said Ross Baker, Commercial Director of Transport for London (TfL). " This gives our passengers and colleagues more choice for sustainable travel between Heathrow and London." said a delighted Ross Baker, Commercial Director of Heathrow.
In addition, and this is another major change, customers will be able to use the Elizabeth line seven days a week with the introduction of the Sunday service through central London, again from 6 November. The frequency of services in central London will also be increased for increase from 12 trains per hour to 22 trains per hour at peak times and 16 trains per hour at off-peak times. This will be followed by a further increase to 24 trains per hour at peak times between Paddington and Whitechapel by May 2023. " This increased capacity on the Elizabeth line will play a crucial role in encouraging people to make the most of the capital and will contribute to supporting businesses at the heart of our city" said the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
In parallel with this development, a new station, Bond Street in the heart of London's West End, is also due to open by November, at the same time relieving congestion at the busy Oxford Circus tube station. The station will be bathed in natural light and accessible without walking, as all 41 stations on the Elizabeth Line are equipped with lifts providing step-free access to the platforms for people with disabilities. people with reduced mobility.
Some disruption is still to be expected, however, as the line still needs to be completed. engineering workWith services already scheduled to stop on 12, 18 and 19 November, Heathrow station will be closed on the last two dates, and probably also during the festive season.
