Elizabeth line continues to boost travel and economic growth

Credit: Transport for London

Transport for London (TfL) reports that the Elizabeth line has seen over 350 million journeys since its launch in May 2022, helping to drive recovery from the pandemic by creating new travel opportunities, supporting regeneration across the capital, and increasing housing and social opportunities. This has added an estimated £42 billion to the UK economy.

In its first full year, the Elizabeth line had seen over 150 million passenger journeys, increasing to 210 million in 2023/24. Passenger demand has surpassed post-pandemic expectations, averaging 700,000 journeys on weekdays, with a peak of 787,000 on 18 April 2024. Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street are the busiest stations. Projections for 2024/25 estimate 226 million journeys, an 8% increase from the previous year. Notably, demand between Reading and Hayes & Harlington increased by 80%, and demand to Heathrow terminals rose by 64% since November 2022.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The Elizabeth line has been a game-changer for our city, transforming travel across London and the South East and delivering a £42 billion boost to the UK economy. In just two years, more than 350 million journeys have been made and the line has directly impacted the development of 55,000 new homes and significantly supported employment growth.”

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Howard Smith, TfL’s Director of the Elizabeth line, said: “The Elizabeth line has rightly and quickly become one of the most popular railways in the country. It has also been one of the most reliable, and earlier this year [2024] we achieved our best quarterly performance so far. The Elizabeth line continues to be transformational for people travelling across London and the South East. The huge numbers of customers using our accessible trains and stations is a real testament to the importance of the railway investment and to all those involved in keeping it running.”

The Elizabeth line has also improved accessibility across the TfL network. All 41 stations are step-free from street to platform, with central section stations fully accessible from street to train. Each train offers dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, buggies, luggage and cycles, making the Elizabeth line an inclusive travel option for all.