London’s Schoolchildren turn Paddington to Abbey Wood purple to celebrate the opening of Elizabeth line

23 May 2022
Local schools have created purple decorations and artwork at landmarks near the new stations to mark one day to go before opening

With one day to go until the opening of the Elizabeth line, landmarks across the central section are today (May 23) turning purple with a little help from local schoolchildren.

A school close to each of the nine new stations has created purple decorations and artwork - inspired by the colour of the new line - which will be available to view between 10am and 4pm.

The full list of schools and locations - and the Elizabeth line station that they are close to - are as follows:

  • Departures Road (Paddington) - Marylebone Boys School
  • Phoenix Gardens (Tottenham Court Road) - Soho Parish Primary School
  • Charterhouse (Farringdon) - St Mary Magdalene Academy
  • Whitechapel market (Whitechapel) - Swanlea School
  • Spitalfields market (Liverpool Street) - Kobi Nazrul Primary School
  • Konstantin Grcic's Six Public Clocks (Canary Wharf) - New City College
  • Cable car ticket hall (Custom House) - Royal Docks Academy
  • General Gordon Square (Woolwich) - Royal Greenwich Trust School
  • Lesnes Abbey Wood (Abbey Wood) - London South East College (Bexley campus)

Ann Gavaghan, Customer Experience Manager at Transport for London's People and Places Programme, said: "TfL has a long legacy of collaborating with local communities both within our stations and beyond. With just one day until the Elizabeth line launches, it has been fantastic to drum up excitement within the local community using the railway's eye-catching new colour.   

"The new line will transform travel across London and the South East by dramatically improving transport links, cutting journey times, providing additional capacity, and transforming accessibility with spacious new stations and walk-through trains. It will serve Londoners and beyond for many decades to come."  

The first Elizabeth line services will depart Paddington and Abbey Wood Elizabeth line stations from 06:30 on 24 May. Trains will run every five minutes between 06:30 - 23:00 Monday to Saturday.

All Elizabeth line stations will be staffed from first to the last train, with a 'turn up and go' service offered to anyone needing assistance. Step-free access is in place from street to train across all Elizabeth line stations between Paddington and Woolwich.

Notes to editors

Pictures and quotes from the schools and venues involved are available on request from the TfL Press Office pressoffice@tfl.gov.uk