Elizabeth line smashes new passenger record
The Elizabeth line has broken yet another record for passe her journeys in the latest Transport for London stats.
Each month – give or take – the latest period of travel journeys are uploaded and new figures show another bumper month for the Elizabeth line.
TfL record 13 months across a year so it’s not quite monthly data but every 28 days give or take – and data can’t often be fairly compared to previous periods given the impact of engineering work, strikes, weekends and Bank Holidays plus other variances.
Yet the Liz Line beats records seemingly at will while other modes fall, remain stable or see a small rise before falling back.
It’ll hardly be a surprise to regular passengers. This week I’ve taken it at 6am from Abbey Wood and early afternoon from Stratford. Both time you may expect it to be quiet. Nope. Barely a seat to be seen. Standing room only from the second station.
Over the summer the service also presents another benefit with air conditioned trains. I’ve ditched the DLR and Southeastern Metro for the blissful chill of a cool train in recent weeks.
The DLR should be seeing new air conditioned trains in service by now – but still no sign of that. TfL say late 2024.
Coupled with shorter DLR trains as TfL eek out mileage of old stock and a reduced service across the network due to preparations for replacement stock, the DLR isn’t setting passenger records.
As for the London Overground that’s doing well. Buses aren’t amazing but the latest period was decent given previous long term decline. Perhaps the Superloop is attracting custom, but again buses aren’t exactly the best in a warm or hot summer.
With housebuilding across SE and East London outpacing other parts of the capital it’s likely that growth across the Liz line, London Overground and DLR will continue, particularly when those new trains are finally in service.
I simply love the Elizabeth Line, it’s the crown jewel of quality public transport in London.
Plus another 10 Class 345 9-Car trains have been ordered to increase more extra capacity as HS2 to Euston have been mothballed or delayed. That makes the total of 80 Class 345s on the Elizabeth Line.
Plus the Elizabeth Line should introduce the Reading service instead of terminating at Paddington to & from Shenfield. And some to terminate at Chadwell Heath and some to terminate at Maidenhead to & from Abbey Wood and Shenfield.