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Friday, March 29, 2024

Elizabeth line clocks more than one million passenger journeys in first week

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More than one million passengers have used the new Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey since it opened on Tuesday 24 May.

Across the whole line, which stretches from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, more than two million journeys have been made.

Businesses across the line have welcomed the arrival of the Elizabeth line, which connects areas including world-leading financial centres in the Square Mile, and Canary Wharf, to key business and events hubs in the east including the Royal Docks..

“It has been fantastic to see the Elizabeth line receive such a great reception,” said Howard Smith, TfL’s Director of the Elizabeth line. “Customers have been flocking to the railway in the hundreds of thousands each day since opening to marvel at our beautiful new stations but also to experience drastically shorter journey times. It is already having a transformative impact on local businesses and opening up access to new areas of London.”

Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners said: “The Elizabeth line fundamentally changes London’s economic geography. As a global megacity, London is home to districts which are world-class destinations in their own right – the West End for shopping and entertainment; the City and Canary Wharf for financial and professional services; Royal Docks for huge events; and Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for sports and culture. The new Elizabeth line connects these exceptional places with each other, with 1.5 million people, and with the world via Heathrow Airport. We know that London’s growth has been driven by the breadth of our offer – commerce, culture, and government all in one place – and now, all on one green, accessible, and very beautiful train line.”

London is paying for most of the Elizabeth line, with nearly 70% of the total funding paid by London – made up of roughly 30% from London’s farepayers, around 40% from London’s businesses – combined with 30% from Government. Businesses from right around the UK have benefited from work connected to the Elizabeth line.

Throughout its construction, the railway has had an extensive supply chain which has supported businesses of all sizes, and jobs and skills creation across the whole country. The Class 345 trains running on the Elizabeth line were built in Derby, roundels and signage for the line were supplied by a family-run business on the Isle of Wight, and a company based in Leeds strengthened and protected London’s Victorian sewer networks during construction.

Image credit: TfL

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