The Impact of Crossrail

The East of City market has benefited from improved transport links over the past 15 years. The Jubilee line extension to Canary Wharf in 1999 was critical to the area, making it accessible from central London, and attracting financial institutions which would not previously have considered relocating. In Wapping, the extension of the London Overground in 2010 has meant the area is now well connected to the rest of the city.

Crossrail is the next big transport improvement project for the capital and will be particularly beneficial to Canary Wharf. When operational in 2018, the travel time to much of central London will be significantly shorter, for example the journey between Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street will fall from 20 minutes to just six minutes. It will also change the historic lack of access to international airports with journey times from Canary Wharf to Heathrow taking just 39 minutes, something which will appeal to a number of international executives.

It is not just improved connectivity that Crossrail brings, the station’s retail and park space above has already had a big impact since opening in May 2015. The huge six storey development contains new shops, restaurants and a roof top park which attracts visitors from all over London and the UK.

These infrastructure and public realm improvements over the past few years continue to enhance the lifestyle of those living in Canary Wharf, transforming it from somewhere to just live and work to a vibrant community and a destination for many.

^{Source: Crossrail.co.uk}