A new long metro line 100 kilometers: a London opens the largest public transport infrastructure in Europe. The 24 maggio 2022 it will be a historic day: the Elizabeth Line, an uncovered and underground railway line that cuts the immense urban agglomeration of the capital from East to West. It is an infinite and expensive work that finally sees the light.
Commuters and the environment rejoice
Over the last few days, new lines in a have appeared on the iconic map of the London tube pale viola color: it is the new line that is added to the more than 20 already existing. The sovereign Elizabeth II in person, in mid-May, she went to visit the upcoming subway. And just before 6:30 on Tuesday 24 May, the gates will finally be open to ordinary passengers. After decades of planning, 13 years of construction it’s almost 20 billion pounds spent (about 25 billion euros), the expected Crossrailrenamed in honor of the longest-serving monarch in the history of the British crown, is ready to clank in convoys: from Readingsatellite city in the conurbation of London up to Shenfieldin the county ofEssex, the daily commute of millions of commuters will make a huge leap in quality. It also breathes the environment: as many million fewer cars on the roads and tons of CO2 saved.
Partial inauguration
There is also the downside: of the 100 kilometers of line, only a part will come into operation now. And to make the entire journey you have to change trains twice. Only in autumn, the line will really be fully operational. But the important news is that the crucial junction of the whole work is now open: the 13 miles (about 20km) of tunnels dug under central Londonpunctuated by 9 new stations and digitally controlled trains that offer space and speed that the passengers of the London Underground, famously squeezed like sardines among various scents, have never enjoyed. When the line goes to full capacity, Canary Wharfthe financial city with the skyscrapers of the big business banks, will be connected to the airport of Heathrow in less than 50 minutes. A revolution of public transport.
Imitation (late) of Paris and Milan
The Elizabeth Line was inspired by the RER of Parisbut takes public transport standards one step further: trains 205 meters long, with boarding at the level of the platform for wheelchairs or strollers, without the infamous “mind the gap”; and high doors without having to bend over, they will carry up to 1,500 people each one every five minutes. On closer inspection, London “copies” the Milan railway link with 25 years of delay: in the economic capital of Italy the S Line was opened under the government of the Olive tree and the mayor Gabriele Albertini. For once, the Belpaese led the way. And the United Kingdom is not only chasing but has also become a bit Italian. At a certain point, the Elizabeth Line had become the British Salerno-Reggio Calabria: endless works, costs more and more alt. It felt like it was never to be completed amid constant announcements of schedule slips. Even efficient London has discovered how Great Works are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to build in advanced and highly urbanized countries. There Elizabeth Line is the first new metro in 40 years: the last line had been the Jubilee Line which dates back to 1979 (with an extension and the new station of Westminster in the 1999).
The new Metro of the Queen
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Over the past three years, amidst delays and overspending, the great boast of British engineering had taken a hard hit. There was an irreverent story in London: that the Queen, 96 years old, prostrated by the death of the Prince Philip and from Covid, which many would like to see abdicate, could not have disappeared until the new subway bearing her name was completed. The joke has finally been proven wrong. There was also a yet another record for the Queen which has accumulated more than any other record: it is the only sovereign to whom a living subway has been dedicated. The only other case in the line with a queen’s name, the Victoria Linewas actually built in 60’shalf a century after the death of the sovereign.