Final preparations are underway at Bond Street Elizabeth line station ahead of the station opening to customers next week. The new station is set to further radically improve travel across London and the South East by providing a new link to one of the busiest shopping districts in Europe. Services will begin calling at the station ahead of an anticipated busy winter this year. With two new entrances, at Davies Street near Oxford Street and Hanover Square near Regent Street, the station will be a gateway to the West End just in time for Black Friday and the festive period.
The final week of trial operations is currently underway. Trial operations include practice evacuations, testing fire control systems and alarms, and extensive security checks. In addition to trial operations, signage and wayfinding is being unveiled to direct customers, and a final deep clean of the station will take place.
The new station is step free from street to train with two lifts to street level, further enhancing accessibility across the TfL network. The station will be able to accommodate nearly 140,000 Elizabeth line passenger journeys daily. This will more than double the number of people currently using Bond Street station to visit the area – providing a welcome boost to the area and easing congestion at nearby stations.
The Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: “It is exciting that in less than a week’s time the Bond Street Elizabeth line station will open. The Elizabeth line is helping to build a better London – one which is safer, fairer, greener, and more prosperous city for all Londoners.
“This spacious and step-free station will provide a new link to one of the busiest shopping districts in Europe ahead of the festive period, helping to draw more people back into the centre of the city and encouraging them to make the most of the capital – supporting shops, restaurants, and theatres in the West End. I want to thank all the team at Bond Street for their hard work to get the station ready to open its doors on Monday, and I can’t wait for Londoners and visitors to our city to experience it for themselves.”
Kim Kapur, Crossrail Delivery Director, said: “In just under a week, we will be opening a beautiful and spacious new addition to London’s transport network. Bond Street Elizabeth line station is a truly spectacular result of a commendable collaborative effort by everyone involved.
“The station staff are currently working on the important final steps ahead of opening, and are excited to see customers take advantage of this new link to the area just in time for the busy peak shopping months at the end of the year.”
Dee Corsi, Interim Chief Executive of New West End Company, said: “The Elizabeth Line is a welcome boost to the West End’s economic recovery and is a key driver in returning us to our historic £10 billion annual turnover. With direct access from Heathrow and key destinations, we hope the opening of Bond Street station will act as further encouragement for Londoners and international visitors alike to come and spend time in the district.”
Paul Marsden, Branch Manager at John Lewis Oxford Street, said: “With Christmas just around the corner and our Christmas shop in full swing, the timing couldn’t be better. The Elizabeth line station at Bond Street will allow even more people to visit one of the UK’s best shopping districts, especially during the festive season.
“We’re really excited to welcome more shoppers to our Oxford Street store, so they can enjoy the magic of Christmas at John Lewis. From visiting Santa’s Grotto to buying your Secret Santa present, we really do have something for everyone.”
According to a new report from the New West End Company (NWEC) compiled by global property consultancy, Colliers, the West End is forecast to return to its historic annual turnover of over £10 billion by 2025. A significant part of this growth is being driven by the opening of the Elizabeth line, which is expected to influence between £700m and £800m a year (or between £5 billion and £7 billion cumulatively by 2031) in additional sales.
Customers can plan their journeys on the Elizabeth line using the TfL Go app and Journey Planner. Customers will be able to travel from Bond Street to stations such as Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf in 8 minutes and 15 minutes respectively.
Photo credit: TfL
