London’s Elizabeth line to Transform Travel Across the Capital

London, 24 May 2022: Today’s opening of the Elizabeth line marks a new chapter for railway travel across the capital, introducing a transformative way to connect people and communities.

Since its inception, MTR Elizabeth line (MTREL), the operator of the Elizabeth line on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), has been widely recognised for its commitment to the communities in which it operates, prioritising employing local people that are representative of the diverse communities they serve* and working closely with community groups to offer a safe and accessible service.

The Elizabeth line will offer an easier, faster and more enjoyable travel experience, cutting journey times and providing improved capacity both at the spacious stations and on the longer, walk-through trains. With greater accessibility across the route and the provision of a ‘turn up and go’ service to anyone requiring assistance, many more customers will be able to take advantage of the benefits of rail travel.

For the first time, passengers will be able to travel between key London locations including Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street, Tottenham Court Road, Paddington and Heathrow in record time. Initially, the Elizabeth line will operate across three sections with full services introduced across the entire route by 2023, creating more seamless journeys into and across central London from the West and East of the city.

Chief Executive Officer of MTR UK, Steve Murphy, said: “We have been working closely with multiple partners towards this goal including TfL, Crossrail, Network Rail, and Alstom, and are excited to reach this historic milestone that will greatly enhance connectivity while helping to drive the capital’s economic recovery.

“I am particularly pleased for two groups of people that this day has arrived. Firstly, for Londoners who have always been so supportive of this immense project and secondly, for our outstanding colleagues at MTREL who I’ve been privileged to work alongside. Commencing services on the Elizabeth line would not have been possible without their considerable effort and expertise and I’m incredibly proud of their achievements.”

MTR Elizabeth line’s Managing Director, Nigel Holness, added: “We are committed to delivering the highest standards of operational reliability and efficiency for our passengers and look forward to welcoming customers onto the new Elizabeth line. I would like to thank all our MTR Elizabeth line colleagues for their hard work leading up to the opening of the line and for their ongoing dedication to serving our local communities.”

*As of January 2022, 75% of MTREL employees were from the local community (living in one of the boroughs the Elizabeth line will serve).