TODAY is a big day for Reading as the Elizabeth Line connects the town to the Big Smoke, without the need to change trains.
While people have been able to use the new Tube service for several months, it is now possible to get into central London without having to make a switch at Paddington.
From Sunday, November 6, the Elizabeth Line services will run from Abbey Wood in East London to Reading, stopping at Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street, as well as Paddington.
Journey times from central London to Reading will be just over an hour, but there are no toilets on the trains as they are part of the Tube network.
The new services comes after the Bond Street station opened last month, but it is not the final stage of the project.
The full timetable is on track to be in place by May, and will include end-to-end journeys, including from Shenfield to Heathrow, and up to 24 trains per hour during the peak between Paddington and Whitechapel.
Nigel Horton-Baker, chief executive of REDA (Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency), said: “The completion of the final phase of the Elizabeth Line project is a great achievement and is part of Reading’s 2050 Vision to become a smart and sustainable city of the future.
“The seamless transport link will bolster Reading’s position as a major commercial destination connected to the UK’s capital and global financial centres, as well as an exciting place to visit thanks to the short travel times and easy access via the Elizabeth Line.”
And at the launch of Bond Street, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The opening of the Elizabeth line by the Queen at Paddington in May was a landmark moment, not just for London but for the entire country.
“It is playing a crucial role in our recovery from the pandemic and delivering a £42 billion boost to the UK economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of new homes and jobs.
“The Elizabeth line is helping to build a better London – a fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all.
“I’m so proud of this new line.”
For more on REDA, log on to: visit-reading.com
