London Transport – London Office Buzz

Crossrail will result in a range of substantial economic benefits to London, the South-East and the UK. According to Crossrail, the economic impact of the new transport corridor will be at least £42 billion. It will also promote new business development and employment opportunities, as well as improved commuting times for those living and working along the corridor.

Running from Paddington in Central London to Heathrow Airport and Reading, the western section is set to open in 2019. A number of stations will be enhanced along the route, while new stations will open at Acton Main Line, Southall, West Ealing and Hayes & Harlington. These improvements are also encouraging development and regeneration, providing new places to work and do business along the Crossrail corridor. Other stations along the western section of Crossrail include Burnham, Ealing Broadway, Hanwell, Heathrow Airport, Iver, Langley, Maidenhead, Reading, Slough, Taplow Twyford, and West Drayton. Crossrail will help support the regeneration of town centres such as Ealing, as well as other areas including Southall.

One of the most significant impacts of the western section will be on the residential market. By reducing travel times, Crossrail will help increase house prices along the route. This will increase the appeal of several areas, such as Ealing. Ealing Broadway Station is being refurbished, while the town centre is subject to extensive regeneration plans including an upgrade to the Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre. These improvements are attracting commercial property developers to Ealing, with major schemes including the St. George’s development on New Broadway.

Shorter commute times will also help attract new commercial development to the area around five Crossrail stations within Ealing. The new link will help make Ealing an attractive alternative to areas along the M4/A4 corridor in West London. According to Crossrail, 44 per cent of planning applications for development within a kilometre of the five stations in the London Borough of Ealing cited the project as a justification for moving forward. For example, the Southall Gas Works will bring 3,750 new homes and 525,000 square feet of new commercial and community space close to Southall station. The development of the 83-hectare brownfield site will also include a new primary school. Continue reading “The Business Benefits and Economic Boost: Crossrail Western Section” →

Built 150 yeas ago, the London Underground is now part and parcel of the life of many Londoners. Given the capital’s notoriously bad traffic, the tube is often hailed as the quickest way of getting from A to B. But is it really so? Some of the trains running up and down the Metropolitan line can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, but in the city centre, trains barely reach half of that speed. The reason? The stations are too close to each other. This means that in some cases, it might actually be faster to walk than to take the tube. If you are often pressed for time or simply enjoy walking around, take a look at a few alternative walking routes that can save you time and money.

Leicester Square to Covent Garden

These two Piccadilly line stations are only 270 yards apart. In fact, you will see signs at both stations recommending passengers to walk, especially at peak times. Walking takes just 4 minutes, plus you won’t be putting your patience to the test on the crowded escalators or using up all your energy climbing the 193 steps at Covent Garden.

Charing Cross to Embankment

Many stations on the Jubilee line are barely 500 yards apart from each other. Charing Cross and Embankment are even closer, at just under 300 yards. Walking will definitely offer you a welcome break from the trains that are often packed with commuters. The walk down Northumberland Avenue is quite pleasant and takes only 5 minutes.

Farringdon to Chancery Lane

Trying to get by tube between these two stations involves changing from the Central to the Northern line at Bank station and changing lines again (after just 1 stop) at Moorgate. The trip seems too much of a hassle considering that you can walk between both stations is less than 10 minutes and enjoy a walk through the backstreets of old Holborn. Continue reading “Is it Faster to Walk Between Some London Underground Stations than Take the Tube?” →