COST, TIME AND CONVENIENCE: Will the Elizabeth Line impact taxi work levels?
A well-known London taxi driver and YouTuber has explained why the capital’s latest tube line will likely have little impact on taxi industry work levels.
Tom Hutley, a cabbie with over 50,000 subscribers on the YouTube platform, released his latest video which comparing the costs, time and convenience of using both tradition black cabs and the newly opened Elizabeth Line.
Transport for London (TfL) said recently taxis will play an important role in transporting the public to Elizabeth line stations and helping people to complete their onward journeys, particularly late at night.
This month the Elizabeth line opened its doors for the first time which includes the new section from Paddington to Abbey Wood. The line will initially operate as three separate railways, in the east, west and through central London. Services from Reading, Heathrow and Shenfield will connect with the central tunnels from autumn this year.
When the final stage is complete, customers will be able to travel seamlessly from Abbey Wood to Heathrow and Reading, and from Shenfield to Heathrow.
A TfL spokesperson said: “We have been working with colleagues across Transport for London and the local boroughs to integrate taxi rank provisions at key locations.
“We have delivered nine new taxi ranks to complement the existing ranks at Elizabeth line stations and continue to work with local boroughs to introduce more ranks at Elizabeth line locations.”
Whats running and where?
Until autumn 2022:
There will be 12 trains an hour (a train every five minutes) running between Paddington and Abbey Wood from 06:30 to 23:00, Monday to Saturday. Bond Street is currently closed and will open later this year
There will be no Sunday services from Paddington to Abbey Wood, apart from a special service that will run on Sunday 5 June 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee weekend running from 08:00 to 22:00
Services between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, and Paddington to Heathrow and Reading will continue to operate on Sundays as they do now
