Liverpool Street station in London has become the busiest station in Britain, surpassing Waterloo, according to new figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR attributed the surge in passengers to the full opening of the Elizabeth line, which has changed the way people travel. Outside of London, the busiest stations were Birmingham New Street, Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, Glasgow Central, and Cardiff Central. Liverpool Street station saw a year-on-year increase of around 50 million entries and exits, reaching a total of 80.4 million between April 2022 and March 2023.

The opening of the Elizabeth line in May 2022, which also serves Paddington, contributed to Liverpool Street station’s rise to the top spot. It recorded 59.2 million entries and exits, while Waterloo fell to third place with 57.8 million entries and exits. The impact of the Elizabeth line on London’s transportation network has been significant, with stations like Farringdon experiencing a jump in rankings and serving 30 million passengers. However, the line has faced criticism from the mayor over its performance on shared infrastructure out of Paddington.

The figures highlight the importance of investing in high-quality rail infrastructure. With few major rail projects currently underway, the success of the Elizabeth line demonstrates that people are willing to use and rely on well-designed and efficient transportation systems. Feras Alshaker, director of planning and performance at the ORR, noted that Waterloo had been the busiest station in Britain for most of the previous 18 years. The least used station throughout the year was Denton in Greater Manchester, with only 34 entries and exits, while Teesside Airport station recorded just two entries and exits due to the suspension of its Sunday service.

In summary, Liverpool Street station has become Britain’s busiest station, overtaking Waterloo, thanks to the opening of the Elizabeth line. The figures highlight the impact of investing in high-quality rail infrastructure and the willingness of people to use efficient transportation systems.

Original news source: Liverpool Street becomes Britain’s busiest station (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article and write a concise summary of the main points. They should focus on capturing the key information and presenting it in a clear and concise manner.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Each group should discuss and come up with their opinions on the following question: “Do you think investing in high-quality rail infrastructure is important for a city’s transportation system?” After discussing, each group will present their opinions to the class and a poll will be conducted to see which opinion is most popular among the students.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Provide a list of vocabulary words from the article. Divide the class into small groups and give each group a set of vocabulary words. One student from each group will take turns drawing a picture to represent one of the words, while the other students in the group try to guess the word. The first group to guess the correct word gets a point. Continue until all the words have been guessed.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Ask students to create a catchy headline for the article. They should try to capture the main idea of the article in a few words. After giving them some time to think, have students share their headlines with the class and discuss which ones they think are the most effective.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about the future of transportation in their own cities or countries. They should consider factors such as technological advancements, population growth, and environmental concerns. After discussing, each group will present their predictions to the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. According to the article, what has caused Liverpool Street station to become the busiest station in Britain?
2. How many entries and exits did Liverpool Street station have between April 2022 and March 2023?
3. Which station fell to third place after Liverpool Street station took the top spot?
4. What impact has the opening of the Elizabeth line had on London’s transportation network?
5. Which station saw a jump in rankings and served 30 million passengers?
6. What criticism has the Elizabeth line faced from the mayor?
7. Why is the success of the Elizabeth line significant for investing in rail infrastructure?
8. Which were the least used stations in Britain according to the figures?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Liverpool Street (1)______ in London has become the busiest station in Britain, surpassing Waterloo, according to new figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR attributed the surge in passengers to the full opening of the Elizabeth line, which has changed the way (2)______ travel. Outside of London, the busiest stations were Birmingham New Street, Leeds, Manchester (3)______, (4)______ Central, and Cardiff Central. Liverpool Street station saw a year-on-year increase of around 50 million entries and exits, reaching a (5)______ of 80.4 million between April 2022 and March 2023.

The opening of the (6)______ line in May 2022, which also serves Paddington, contributed to Liverpool Street station’s rise to the top spot. It recorded 59.2 million (7)______ and exits, while Waterloo fell to third place with 57.8 million entries and exits. The impact of the Elizabeth line on London’s transportation network has been significant, with (8)______ like Farringdon experiencing a jump in rankings and serving 30 million passengers. However, the line has faced criticism from the mayor over its performance on shared infrastructure out of Paddington.

The (9)______ highlight the importance of investing in high-quality rail infrastructure. With few major rail projects currently underway, the success of the Elizabeth line demonstrates that people are willing to use and rely on well-designed and efficient (10)______ systems. Feras (11)______, director of (12)______ and performance at the ORR, noted that Waterloo had been the busiest station in Britain for most of the previous 18 (13)______. The least used station throughout the year was Denton in Greater Manchester, with only 34 entries and (14)______, while Teesside Airport station recorded just two entries and exits due to the suspension of its Sunday service.

In summary, Liverpool Street station has become Britain’s busiest station, overtaking (15)______, thanks to the opening of the Elizabeth line. The figures highlight the impact of investing in high-quality rail infrastructure and the (16)______ of people to use efficient transportation systems.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on the rise of Liverpool Street station as the busiest station in Britain?
2. How would you feel if your regular train station suddenly became overcrowded and busy?
3. Do you like using public transportation? Why or why not?
4. Do you think investing in high-quality rail infrastructure is important for a city? Why or why not?
5. How do you think the opening of the Elizabeth line has changed the way people travel in London?
6. Have you ever experienced a significant change in transportation options in your city? How did it affect you?
7. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of having a busy train station in your city?
8. How do you think the increase in passengers at Liverpool Street station will impact the surrounding area and businesses?
9. Do you think it is necessary to constantly update and improve transportation systems in a city? Why or why not?
10. Have you ever encountered any issues or problems while using public transportation? What were they and how did you handle them?
11. How do you think the opening of the Elizabeth line has affected other forms of transportation in London, such as buses or taxis?
12. What changes do you think should be made to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public transportation in your city?
13. Have you ever used the Elizabeth line or any other new transportation system? How was your experience?
14. How do you think the ranking of train stations in terms of passenger numbers can impact the reputation and perception of a city?
15. What role do you think public transportation plays in reducing traffic congestion and pollution in a city?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. surpassed
2. attributed
3. surge
4. entries
5. exits
6. significant
7. criticism
8. infrastructure
9. underway
10. demonstrates
11. rely
12. efficient
13. previous
14. suspension
15. overtaking

Meanings:
(A) The act of going into a place
(B) A sudden increase or upward movement
(C) The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
(D) The expression of disapproval or finding fault
(E) Working in a well-organized and competent way
(F) In the process of being done or carried out
(G) Credited or ascribed a cause or source to something
(H) The act of temporarily stopping or delaying something
(I) Occurring or existing before the current time
(J) Moving past or ahead of something or someone in position or rank
(K) Shows or illustrates through action or occurrence
(L) The act of leaving or going out of a place
(M) Depend on with full trust or confidence
(N) Went beyond or exceeded
(O) Having a noticeable or important effect
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. According to new figures, which station has become the busiest in Britain?
(a) Liverpool Street
(b) Waterloo
(c) Birmingham New Street
(d) Leeds

2. What contributed to Liverpool Street station’s rise to the top spot?
(a) The closure of Waterloo station
(b) The construction of a new terminal
(c) The opening of the Elizabeth line
(d) The increase in population in the area

3. Which station fell to third place in the rankings?
(a) Birmingham New Street
(b) Leeds
(c) Waterloo
(d) Manchester Piccadilly

4. How many entries and exits did Liverpool Street station record between April 2022 and March 2023?
(a) 50 million
(b) 59.2 million
(c) 57.8 million
(d) 80.4 million

5. Which station experienced a jump in rankings due to the opening of the Elizabeth line?
(a) Farringdon
(b) Glasgow Central
(c) Cardiff Central
(d) Manchester Piccadilly

6. What has the mayor criticized the Elizabeth line for?
(a) Its lack of accessibility for disabled passengers
(b) Its high ticket prices
(c) Its slow train speeds
(d) Its performance on shared infrastructure out of Paddington

7. What do the figures highlight the importance of?
(a) Investing in more bus services
(b) Investing in high-quality rail infrastructure
(c) Investing in more airports
(d) Investing in more highways

8. Which station was the least used throughout the year?
(a) Teesside Airport
(b) Denton
(c) Waterloo
(d) Farringdon

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The surge in passengers at Liverpool Street station is not attributed to the full opening of the Elizabeth line.
2. The Elizabeth line has had a significant impact on London’s transportation network, with stations like Farringdon experiencing a jump in rankings and serving 30 million passengers.
3. The opening of the Elizabeth line in May 2022 contributed to Liverpool Street station’s rise to the top spot.
4. Outside of London, the busiest stations in Britain are Birmingham New Street, Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, Glasgow Central, and Cardiff Central.
5. Liverpool Street station saw a year-on-year increase of around 50 million entries and exits.
6. The success of the Elizabeth line demonstrates the importance of investing in high-quality rail infrastructure.
7. Liverpool Street station in London has not surpassed Waterloo as the busiest station in Britain.
8. Waterloo remained in second place in the rankings of busiest stations, with 57.8 million entries and exits.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. According to the article, what has caused Liverpool Street station to become the busiest station in Britain?
2. How has the opening of the Elizabeth line affected other stations in London?
3. What has been the mayor’s criticism of the Elizabeth line?
4. Why does the article emphasize the importance of investing in high-quality rail infrastructure?
5. What were the least used stations in Britain during the year?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The opening of the Elizabeth line has caused Liverpool Street station to become the busiest station in Britain.
2. Liverpool Street station had 80.4 million entries and exits between April 2022 and March 2023.
3. Waterloo fell to third place after Liverpool Street station took the top spot.
4. The opening of the Elizabeth line has had a significant impact on London’s transportation network, with stations like Farringdon experiencing a jump in rankings and serving 30 million passengers.
5. Farringdon saw a jump in rankings and served 30 million passengers.
6. The Elizabeth line has faced criticism from the mayor over its performance on shared infrastructure out of Paddington.
7. The success of the Elizabeth line is significant for investing in rail infrastructure because it demonstrates that people are willing to use and rely on well-designed and efficient transportation systems.
8. The least used stations in Britain according to the figures were Denton in Greater Manchester, with only 34 entries and exits, and Teesside Airport station, which recorded just two entries and exits due to the suspension of its Sunday service.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) station
(2) people
(3) Piccadilly
(4) Glasgow
(5) total
(6) Elizabeth
(7) entries
(8) stations
(9) figures
(10) transportation
(11) Alshaker
(12) planning
(13) years
(14) exits
(15) Waterloo
(16) willingness
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. surpassed
Answer: (N) Went beyond or exceeded

2. attributed
Answer: (G) Credited or ascribed a cause or source to something

3. surge
Answer: (B) A sudden increase or upward movement

4. entries
Answer: (A) The act of going into a place

5. exits
Answer: (L) The act of leaving or going out of a place

6. significant
Answer: (O) Having a noticeable or important effect

7. criticism
Answer: (D) The expression of disapproval or finding fault

8. infrastructure
Answer: (C) The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise

9. underway
Answer: (F) In the process of being done or carried out

10. demonstrates
Answer: (K) Shows or illustrates through action or occurrence

11. rely
Answer: (M) Depend on with full trust or confidence

12. efficient
Answer: (E) Working in a well-organized and competent way

13. previous
Answer: (I) Occurring or existing before the current time

14. suspension
Answer: (H) The act of temporarily stopping or delaying something

15. overtaking
Answer: (J) Moving past or ahead of something or someone in position or rank
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. According to new figures, which station has become the busiest in Britain?
Answer: (a) Liverpool Street

2. What contributed to Liverpool Street station’s rise to the top spot?
Answer: (c) The opening of the Elizabeth line

3. Which station fell to third place in the rankings?
Answer: (c) Waterloo

4. How many entries and exits did Liverpool Street station record between April 2022 and March 2023?
Answer: (d) 80.4 million

5. Which station experienced a jump in rankings due to the opening of the Elizabeth line?
Answer: (a) Farringdon

6. What has the mayor criticized the Elizabeth line for?
Answer: (d) Its performance on shared infrastructure out of Paddington

7. What do the figures highlight the importance of?
Answer: (b) Investing in high-quality rail infrastructure

8. Which station was the least used throughout the year?
Answer: (b) Denton
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The surge in passengers at Liverpool Street station is not attributed to the full opening of the Elizabeth line. (Answer: False)
2. The Elizabeth line has had a significant impact on London’s transportation network, with stations like Farringdon experiencing a jump in rankings and serving 30 million passengers. (Answer: True)
3. The opening of the Elizabeth line in May 2022 contributed to Liverpool Street station’s rise to the top spot. (Answer: True)
4. Outside of London, the busiest stations in Britain are Birmingham New Street, Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, Glasgow Central, and Cardiff Central. (Answer: False)
5. Liverpool Street station saw a year-on-year increase of around 50 million entries and exits. (Answer: True)
6. The success of the Elizabeth line demonstrates the importance of investing in high-quality rail infrastructure. (Answer: True)
7. Liverpool Street station in London has not surpassed Waterloo as the busiest station in Britain. (Answer: False)
8. Waterloo remained in second place in the rankings of busiest stations, with 57.8 million entries and exits. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧