The central section of the Elizabeth Line, which opened on 24 May, recorded more than a million journeys in its first five days of operation between Paddington and Abbey Wood.
Over the whole route, more than two million journeys were made in the first five days. TfL Elizabeth Line Director Howard Smith was ebullient, saying: ‘It has been fantastic to see the Elizabeth line receive such a great reception. 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.’
Businesses are also backing the route, claiming it is already having an impact. London & Partners Chief Executive Laura Citron 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 railway line.’
