London’s Elizabeth Line is a victim of its own success
Before it became fashionable to berate expensive infrastructure projects, the nineteen billion pound (22 billion euro) Elizabeth Line, was an icon of British engineering achievement. The building of the line, including a massively complex tunnel system under Central London, has become the stuff of legend. The project spawned not just a documentary, for four entire series of primetime TV, watched by millions. Maybe all that attention contributed to the unparalleled popularity of the line. A popularity that has become something of a millstone, argues UK Correspondent Simon Walton.
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Elizabeth Line is an unqualified success! Imagine being able to step on in Reading and exit at Bond Street, or the East End! The recent delays were not the fault of the line itself though. I don’t agree with you on that point.
I don’t have a cut glass accent either!
A Berkshire commuter.
Me thinks this author got a little carried away with his royal and commoner allusions.oerhaps tfl should classify disruptions into types , distinguishing those that are clearly within it’s purview from others that result from elsewhere.
I think your analysis is quite unfair. I use the Lizzy line many times a week and is rarely disrupted. It has transformed travel across the capital and thus is very popular. There could be more resilience on both Elizabeth and Thameslink central cores to deal quickly with failed trains.
God bless Elizabeth and all all who use her. She is truly magnificent. The commentator writes utter nonsense. We
You’re right; the transport network in London is the envy of the rest of the UK. The question is when will there be parity? I’ve experienced the nightmare of trying to commute at night in Kent on buses and wonder if the resolution of this problem is a carrott worth dangling in the comming elections.
They need to get the permanent wi-fi or 4G up and running asap. I mean it’s working now fully on the jubilee line so what’s the delay here? Yes you can use at stations but if/when you’re stuck between them it’s game over. It’s a lovely addition to the infrastructure, wish we had it in 20 years ago lol.
What an absolutely nonsense article. Disruptions occur on every rail line. They are an unavoidable part of life. This article reads like it was written by ChatGPT.
About 4G mobile connectivity, I don’t know why it wasn’t available a long time ago on other Underground lines. It’s been available for as long as I can remember on the entire MRT network in Hong Kong, and the Elizabeth Line is run on behalf of TfL by the MTR.
We are getting there. This criticism is necessary to act as a check and balance for a better future performance.
Consequences of Lizzie Line:
DLR trains are shortened and fewer
Charing Cross direct service from Woolwich is now cancelled. You have to change at London Bridge.
Fastest way on to Jubilee is change at Canary Wharf and walk.
Fastest way on to District in change at Whitechapel.
I know so many people who train it into Woolwich Arsenal and walk across to Lizzie
Poorly written and unfair criticism of fantastic line. Seattle visitors.
Poorly written and unfair criticism of fantastic line. Author needs to get a life.
Seattle visitors
This ‘journalist’s’ gall and hubris quite breathtaking in their absurdity! The Elizabeth line is possibly THE singular greatest piece of modern engineering in the UK since Brunel’s bridge in Clifton.
Let one not forget the phenomenal tunnelling that was required in so much of the development of the line, just stunning achievements all the way.
STOP this constant knocking of these developments,and write caring articles instead of your egotistic diatribes.
Steve HW