With the news that 4G is slowly spreading across the Elizabeth Line (which sounds rather ominous the way I’ve phrased it…) it was only a matter of time until there was yet another announcement of even more tech-y advancements along the line. And this one’s sure to be a real lifesaver. TfL has announced that they are planning on giving all of the trains along the Elizabeth Line a small, but much-appreciated, upgrade: phone chargers.
USB-A sockets (aka the ones that first come to mind when you think of USB sockets) will be retrofitted into all trains. There is some talk, however, of USB-C sockets making their way into the charging ports in the future, if railway standards are updated.
The charging ports are currently being installed, and TfL anticipates that all trains will have them by 2025. The ports will be found in the spaces between facing seats.
That’s right, folks, you’ll never need to choose again between using the last 5% battery to listen to music or find your way home using Citymapper. No longer will you get caught out halfway through a phone call by a dead phone. It’s basically the stuff that dreams are made of.
The Elizabeth Line didn’t already have charging ports?
It may seem like a slightly obvious thing to overlook, given how hi-tech the Elizabeth Line otherwise is. But back when the trains themselves were being built (2014!), charging your phones on public transport was hardly an accepted thing. That’s in stark contrast to nowadays, where there are even buses with phone charging ports!
So… The Elizabeth Line has air-conditioning, 4G, smooth and quiet journeys, and the most futuristic platforms out there. And soon I’ll be able to charge my phone while commuting or on the way home from a night out. Why would I ever travel on any other line?