The first tunnelled section of Transport for London’s (TfL) Elizabeth line has now been equipped with high-speed mobile coverage.
This upgrade enables customers travelling between Liverpool Street and Paddington to benefit from 4G and 5G mobile coverage in the tunnels.
The first tunnelled section stretches from the Royal Oak portal west of Paddington to Liverpool Street station, covering approximately five miles.
Further tunnelled sections to Whitechapel, Canary Wharf and Woolwich will also be connected this summer. This follows all Elizabeth line stations being equipped with mobile coverage earlier this year.
Mobile coverage will also continue to be rolled out across the Underground network, where Hyde Park Corner and Russell Square were recently connected for the first time.
“It's wonderful to see our programme to introduce high-speed mobile coverage now benefitting customers on the Elizabeth line, the newest part of London's historic underground network of stations and tunnels.
“This key step in bringing better connectivity to London's underground stations and tunnels will allow more people travelling around the capital to keep in touch, share photos and make the most of the city, especially as we start to enjoy the summer.”
This work is being delivered by TfL’s partner, Boldyn Networks to help customers stay connected as they travel around London. All four mobile network operators – Three UK, EE, Vodafone, and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) – are taking part in the rollout.
In addition, these upgrades also provide rail and Tube staff with better connectivity for passing on information and hosting the new Emergency Services Network (ESN).
When fully operational, the ESN will give first responders immediate access to life-saving data, images and information in live situations.
