Elizabeth Line now UK's single busiest railway service

More than 500 million passenger journeys have been made on the Elizabeth line in its first two and a half years, making it the single busiest railway service in the UK.

Reports published by Transport for London (TfL) and Arup show journeys made on the railway - which runs from Reading in the north to Shenfield, Essex, in the south - have powered the creation of jobs, homes, and other forms of regeneration across the route.

More than 90 per cent of customers surveyed as part of the evaluation study interim findings report say that the Elizabeth line has had a positive impact in their area, with many welcoming the increased transport connectivity to London suburbs and improved access to Heathrow Airport.

The evaluation study interim findings report has also found that improved cross-river connections are particularly welcomed around the Abbey Wood branch, where there has been an 11 per cent increase in access to employment. There has also been a six per cent uplift in job accessibility along the Heathrow terminals branch. Overall, 62 per cent of customers surveyed say that the opening of the railway has had a positive impact on their access to employment opportunities.

There has been an increase in housing growth within one kilometre of an Elizabeth line station, with growth 14 per cent higher in east London and eight per cent higher in west London between 2017 and 2022, according to analysis in the new benefits report. Abbey Wood has emerged as one of the largest regeneration areas in London, with a six per cent increase in new homes alongside expectations for further development over the next five years.

Meanwhile, additional analysis by TfL has also found that between 2015 and 2022, there were 378,000 jobs created within one kilometre of Elizabeth line stations. During this period, the highest job growth in central London occurred around Liverpool Street station, as it prepared to welcome even more activity as part of the Elizabeth line.

Reaction from London mayor, Transport Commissioner and The Paddington Partnership

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The Elizabeth line has been a game-changer for the city, transforming travel in London and unlocking investment through the creation of new jobs and homes. With its growing popularity, the Elizabeth line is proving itself to be essential to London and the UK’s transport network and helping to build a better, more prosperous London for everyone.

“The evidence from the success of the Elizabeth line is clear – when you invest in high-quality transport infrastructure it can provide huge benefits for increased jobs, growth and the new housing we need in London and across the country.”

Andy Lord, London's Transport Commissioner, said: “The Elizabeth line has truly transformed life and travel in London and the South East by dramatically improving transport links, cutting journey times, providing additional capacity, and transforming accessibility.

“The findings from these reports confirm that the railway is powering important regeneration through new jobs and homes. As we look ahead to the next 500 million journeys, we will continue to focus on improving things for our customers, to ensure we remain London’s most popular railway.”

Kay Buxton, Chief Executive of The Paddington Partnership, said: “The increased mobility afforded by the Elizabeth line’s arrival in 2022 gave London’s office market that all important post-Covid shot-in-the-arm, and no location more so than Paddington, which saw a 150 per cent increase in office deals. Two and a half years later Paddington is the UK’s second busiest station and demand for office space and confidence in the location continues to grow, with a renewed public realm and phenomenal visitor numbers boosting the local hotel sector.”

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