The bustling Essex train station that skyrocketed to popularity just three years ago
It is a pretty common fact that many people live in Essex for its commuter value, with some train stations being some of the busiest in the UK for years due to this fact. This wasn't always the case for one Essex train station - which skyrocketed to fame only a few years ago and has been a defining factor for those looking to move to the town.
Of course, this sudden boom in popularity was due to the Elizabeth line. Originally planned to open in 2018, the project was repeatedly delayed, including for several months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service is now named after Queen Elizabeth II, who officially opened the line on 17 May 2022 during her Platinum Jubilee year. Passenger services officially started on May 24 2022 - and one Essex train station, and its surrounding town, became an incredibly desirable place to live because of this.
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This town is Brentwood, which was once only known for being TOWIE central, but it is now known as a commuter's paradise to live in. From the year 2023-2024, the station saw 3,713,034 passengers.
Back in 2017-2018, it had 2,992,072 - an increase of almost 720,000 passengers over six years. The Elizabeth line means that commuters can now head straight from Brentwood to Liverpool Street in about 40 minutes, but the lines goes as far as Heathrow Airport.
It has not just made life easier for London commuters. More people want to live in Brentwood becuase of this - and it has had a massive impact on its house prices.
House prices in Brentwood have an overall average of £544,748 over the last year, according to Rightmove, making it one of the most expensive towns to live in Essex. Brentwood also has a busy high street, lots of green spaces and some brilliant schools - with its commuter value being the icing on the cake!