Do many people use the ELL?

[greatplum]

I can't see that they would as it seems to go from nowhere in particular to nowhere else... via not a lot... or am I mssing some hidden delights...

[ikar]

Maybe. It is probably the same as District sunday services from Upminster to Aldgate East (I've thinked that nobody used them ) It would be scraped if it hadn't made some profits

[Christopher J]

I personally don't have any need to use the ELL, the only time I do use it when I'm just randomly riding about in London, mostly to go on the A Stocks.

[Phil]

But it's an excellent way of getting across the Thames if you have no car....

[greatplum]

Fair enough - it just strikes me as being a bit of a random line... it wasn't built as part of the Tube network orignally was it? (It's sub-surface isn't it?)

[citysig]

When I used the line a few times a couple of months ago, it was quite decently loaded. This was off-peak around early afternoon.

Ikar, as you were informed when you mentioned those services, they do carry people. They are not run to make a profit - individual trains are not run for that purpose on LU. You were also informed as to the reasons they run. Given that it was a few weeks ago now, and given that the thread is now missing, I will understand how you may have forgotten everything that was said.

[Phil]

greatplum said:

Fair enough - it just strikes me as being a bit of a random line... it wasn't built as part of the Tube network orignally was it? (It's sub-surface isn't it?)

It was part of a much larger scheme to get trains from the south-east to Liverpool Street, and indeed did so for many years.
There were also such exciting journeys such as South Ken to New cross via Edgware Road

[Deleted]

christopherjolly said:

I personally don't have any need to use the ELL, the only time I do use it when I'm just randomly riding about in London, mostly to go on the A Stocks.

I have only ever been on the line twice!

[Colin]

Well, with us winning the Olympics, the East London line's extensions are now guaranteed - so perhaps it will have a more purposeful existence!!

[Deleted]

I understand it is quite well used in the peak hours, and some people walk from Shoreditch into the city rather then change to the crowded DLR or District.

[q8]

I can tell you that in the 80's the ELL was heavily used at Surrey Docks and Whitechapel with standing room only. In the days when the docks were open there used to absolute hoards of dockers using the line which is why the 'F; stock were used down there as they were real crowd shifters.

[jimini]

Wapping is my second nearest station after Tower Hill so I use the ELL a fair bit. My observations during the morning peak would echo adw's comment; there's a lot of commuters out there that take a northbound service from Wapping or Shadwell and change for a w/b H&C / District line @ Whitechapel to avoid the ridiculously long walk from the DLR platforms and the Central line platforms at Bank. Both my flatmates use this route as an alternative and find it a) cooler, b) quieter and c) doesn't require the stair-riddled hike @ Bank. The other poignant thing I tend to notice is (as Phil pointed out) the amount of pedestrians south of the river that take the ELL to Wapping then either walk or hop on the D3 / 100 bus to Canary Wharf or the City respectively to get to work.

[SE13]

Personally, I have only ever used it a handful of times, and on each occasion, it has been packed!! (Off peak)

It was just a handy shortcut from The Mean Streets of SouthEast London to connect with the main system on The North Bank....