Extended operating hours and increased services to come as passenger numbers rise, but projections fall short of pre-pandemic expectations.

Transport for London (TfL) Commissioner Andy Byford has confirmed that the Elizabeth line, London’s latest major rail project, will be operating a full seven-day service starting this autumn. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the £20bn line, which has so far been running from Monday to Saturday, with services operating between 6:30am and 11pm.

Byford also hinted at the potential for longer operating hours, including early morning and late-night trains. However, despite positive trends, TfL’s initial expectations regarding passenger numbers have been revised downward.

Originally, it was anticipated that the Elizabeth line would see up to 250 million journeys annually by 2026. This figure has now been adjusted to between 130 million and 170 million trips per year, with a potential for 200 million if the return to office working accelerates. Byford acknowledged that the continuing trend of remote working and the absence of international tourists have impacted overall ridership across London’s transport network, including buses and the Underground.

Speaking at a session with the passenger advocacy group London TravelWatch, Byford expressed satisfaction with the number of passengers currently using the Elizabeth line but cautioned that it was too soon to determine how many of them were new to the TfL system, as opposed to transferring from other lines, such as the Central line. Efforts are underway to assess the line’s ability to attract new riders and gauge its impact on the wider network.

A key milestone for the line is the expected completion of through-running services in the autumn, which will eliminate the need to change trains at Paddington or Liverpool Street. This is expected to significantly enhance the service’s convenience, allowing passengers to travel seamlessly from Shenfield to Heathrow and Reading, all the way through to the heart of central London.

Work on the Elizabeth line continues, with the opening of the Bond Street station being prioritised and slated to coincide with the full roll-out of through-running services. By May of next year, end-to-end services connecting the eastern and western extremities of the line will be fully operational, further boosting its connectivity and appeal.

Looking to the future, Byford confirmed that there was ample scope for further expansion of services if demand increases. The central section of the Elizabeth line is equipped with a digital signalling system capable of handling up to 30 trains per hour, although the plan is to operate 24 trains an hour starting next May. Additionally, the platforms are designed to accommodate longer trains, potentially allowing for the addition of extra carriages should passenger demand continue to rise.

Despite the challenges faced by TfL in the wake of the pandemic, the Elizabeth line remains a cornerstone of the city’s transport infrastructure, offering improved connectivity and a glimpse of a more efficient future for London’s travel network.