Is Elizabeth line a "tube" line?

[Mr H]

Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the EL to/from LHR (it wasn’t convenient for where I was staying but there is an £7+ airport surcharge that the Piccadilly line doesn’t have.

I have only used it between LHR T123 and LHRT4. It used the same platform as the Hex but a lot of the design felt more LU - use of Johnston Sans font, use of the roundel, the line maps on the trains, the inward facing seats, etc. I guess it really is a hybrid.

 

[Quickstatus]

Elizabeth Line has been packaged to look like a Tube line

Yes the EL tube signs are the same Tube signs except the colour is purple

 

[SYD]

Yes the EL tube signs are the same Tube signs except the colour is purple

and says “Elizabeth Line” rather than “Underground”.



Down on the platforms, same purple sign but obviously with the station name.

 

[Quickstatus]

and says “Elizabeth Line” rather than “Underground”.

And other Tube signs use the name of station on the horizontal part. But yes some have Underground instead of the name of the station

 

[justinbrett]

Yes the EL tube signs are the same Tube signs except the colour is purple

All of the TfL modes use the design, with different colours:

 

[Mr H]

Underground, Overground, wombling free...

 

[justinbrett]

Actually, there are some distinct differences in the packaging I noticed using the EL a few weeks ago. Some stations have seperate barriers (one set for Underground lines and another set for EL - even though in some cases they’re right next to each other). Which is more like switching to between Underground and overground services. But EL uses Underground fares within the Zones.

The new western entrance to Tottenham Court Road station just has the purple EL signage above it, whereas the refurbed eastern entrance has the traditional Underground signage.

Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the EL to/from LHR (it wasn’t convenient for where I was staying but there is an £7+ airport surcharge that the Piccadilly line doesn’t have.

Either way, it’s an excellent addition to the network.

At Heathrow T5 IIRC (and I assume other terminals), the Elizabeth Line goes from the "trains" platforms along with Heathrow Express; The Piccadilly line goes from completely separate "Underground" platforms.

That and the station access fee does not apply to the Underground at Heathrow, just EL.

So definitely treated separate.

 

[SYD]

Before EL, they’re used to the “Heathrow Connect” between Paddington and LHR. Bog standard overground train that had a few stops along the way (probably the same or very similar to EL) but I don’t recall it including the access fee - but may well have. It was something like £10 v £30 for HEX (ignoring adv purchase tix discount etc).

 

[Mr H]

Before EL, they’re used to the “Heathrow Connect” between Paddington and LHR. Bog standard overground train that had a few stops along the way (probably the same or very similar to EL) but I don’t recall it including the access fee - but may well have. It was something like £10 v £30 for HEX (ignoring adv purchase tix discount etc).

I think Elizabeth Line is a rebranding of the Heathrow Connect service on that bit of the line. The rail line to Reading was also an existing line. The new bit is the Crossrail track. Often new lines are formed from an amalgam of existing track and new track. Queen Elizabeth's other line - the Jubilee Line - is a case in point, having been pretty much all Bakerloo Line with a small stretch of new tunnel.

 

[luckypierre]

Actually, there are some distinct differences in the packaging I noticed using the EL a few weeks ago. Some stations have seperate barriers (one set for Underground lines and another set for EL - even though in some cases they’re right next to each other). Which is more like switching to between Underground and overground services. But EL uses Underground fares within the Zones.

The new western entrance to Tottenham Court Road station just has the purple EL signage above it, whereas the refurbed eastern entrance has the traditional Underground signage.

Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the EL to/from LHR (it wasn’t convenient for where I was staying but there is an £7+ airport surcharge that the Piccadilly line doesn’t have.

Either way, it’s an excellent addition to the network.

Regardless of any debate about U/G Vs O/G the EL is a clean slick modern comfortable train, which seemed to have more space as compared to other “tube” lines.
Of course if it’s convenient the LHR to London Paddington HEX offers advance purchase tickets at £5.50

 

[justinbrett]

Regardless of any debate about U/G Vs O/G the EL is a clean slick modern comfortable train, which seemed to have more space as compared to other “tube” lines.
Of course if it’s convenient the LHR to London Paddington HEX offers advance purchase tickets at £5.50

Fixed that for you

 

[Mattg]

I took a London Underground tour last week which was run by a professional guide whose expertise is UK railways. He mentioned during the tour that he and his colleagues (who are also experts in this field) had debated whether or not the Elizabeth Line is a Tube line when it first opened. FWIW they eventually came to the consensus that it doesn't count as a Tube line.

It reminded me of this thread so thought I'd post that conclusion here. Hopefully that settles the debate.

 

[Mr H]

I took a London Underground tour last week which was run by a professional guide whose expertise is UK railways. He mentioned during the tour that he and his colleagues (who are also experts in this field) had debated whether or not the Elizabeth Line is a Tube line when it first opened. FWIW they eventually came to the consensus that it doesn't count as a Tube line.

It reminded me of this thread so thought I'd post that conclusion here. Hopefully that settles the debate.

I think if experts are debating it, it is clear that the term "Tube line" is no longer useful. There used to be a clear distinction between London Underground (Tube) and British Rail but Transport for London has rendered that distinction obsolete.

 

[VPS]

I took a London Underground tour last week which was run by a professional guide whose expertise is UK railways. He mentioned during the tour that he and his colleagues (who are also experts in this field) had debated whether or not the Elizabeth Line is a Tube line when it first opened. FWIW they eventually came to the consensus that it doesn't count as a Tube line.

It reminded me of this thread so thought I'd post that conclusion here. Hopefully that settles the debate.

Did you enjoy the tour and what did it involve - I want to do the post train tour when I'm next in London

 

[Mattg]

Did you enjoy the tour and what did it involve - I want to do the post train tour when I'm next in London

The details are here:

Mind the Gap! It's the Lure of the Underground walk.

Mind the Gap. Down the Tube. The Lure of the Underground. It's the London Walks guided walk of the Tube. Created by Blue Badge Guide Fiona, winner of the Guide of the Year Award.

www.walks.com

It was a two-hour walking tour including a few rides on the Tube. All about the history and quirks of the Tube, and the development of public transport in the UK. I found it very interesting.

 

[VPS]

The details are here:

Mind the Gap! It's the Lure of the Underground walk.

Mind the Gap. Down the Tube. The Lure of the Underground. It's the London Walks guided walk of the Tube. Created by Blue Badge Guide Fiona, winner of the Guide of the Year Award.

www.walks.com

It was a two-hour walking tour including a few rides on the Tube. All about the history and quirks of the Tube, and the development of public transport in the UK. I found it very interesting.

Thanks Matt - that looks great

 

[andye]

When I was a student, one of the big Rag Week events was the Circle Line pub crawl
It was quite a challenge. Pint at first stop then get off at each successive stop and get 1/2 pint all the way round. Collecting for charity on the way. Could get messy but I found it was easier if you ran from tube to pub (less time to metabolise but seemed to burn off the effects)
Very much doubt its allowed now

 

[Mr H]

When I was a student, one of the big Rag Week events was the Circle Line pub crawl
It was quite a challenge. Pint at first stop then get off at each successive stop and get 1/2 pint all the way round. Collecting for charity on the way. Could get messy but I found it was easier if you ran from tube to pub (less time to metabolise but seemed to burn off the effects)
Very much doubt its allowed now

This is famous but most participants dropped out en route. Completion involved drinking 14 pints which would have been beyond the capability of most students, even without the time challenge of 26 tube journeys, getting to pubs and ordering drinks.

 

[andye]

This is famous but most participants dropped out en route. Completion involved drinking 14 pints which would have been beyond the capability of most students, even without the time challenge of 26 tube journeys, getting to pubs and ordering drinks.

It is tough but I did it a few times (once in a nurse's uniform and fishnets ) Although you would think it was heavy, Guinness worked best for me as less gas

 

[Mr H]

It is tough but I did it a few times (once in a nurse's uniform and fishnets )

Presumably now you wear Manly clothes.