The Elizabeth Line, which opened on Tuesday 24 May, includes Farringdon, which is a 16-minute Thameslink journey from Herne Hill Station.
Dulwich and Herne Hill residents are divided on whether the recently reopened Elizabeth Line will improve their local areas.
The Elizabeth Line, which opened on Tuesday 24 May, includes Farringdon, which is a 16-minute Thameslink journey from Herne Hill Station.
Those arriving in Farringdon will now have quick access to transport centers such as Paddington, Liverpool Street and Stratford.
But while some say it will increase transport links in traditionally isolated areas, others remain unconvinced.
Herne Hill Station
Sue Badman, vice president of the Dulwich Society, traveled from Farringdon to Abbey Wood and back to Canary Wharf. She said: “It’s a benefit for Dulwich and Herne Hill residents. It was a great experience: the train arrived quickly and the service was quiet and peaceful.
“Many passengers were excited to be on the new service, while others seemed to have traveled on the Elizabeth Line all their lives.
“Fast access to E-Line will open Dulwich, Herne Hill and other parts of London to faster access to tube services.
“We have to see how the fully integrated service works … but overall, the launch was a triumph.”
Travel time from Herne Hill to Liverpool Street has been reduced to 27 minutes, while a capital trip to Stratford will only take 42 minutes.
But Richard Aldwinckle, a member of the Dulwich Alliance and One Dulwich, a coalition of local groups and traders, said: “I don’t see it as very relevant to Dulwich and I don’t think it has any impact on business here.”
Twitter user @FrancescaHumi said: “Why Reading gets transport to London / tube services but SE London (New Cross, Lewisham, Peckham, Dulwich) don’t get any? “
There have also been hiccups, with the BBC reporting that some Farringdon travelers have been overpaid when they change without touching.
TFL is working on an “urgent solution” to fix the problem.
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Dulwich and Herne Hill are especially not well served by TFL services. Dulwich Village has a public transportation accessibility level of just two, while East Dulwich languishes at three, some of the worst in Southwark.
63% of people in Dulwich own at least one car or van, compared to only 42% in Southwark in general, which has been argued to be caused by poor public transport arrangements.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Green public transport is the future and the opening of the Elizabeth Line is a historic moment for our capital and our entire country.”