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. Journeys made on the railway have powered the creation of jobs, homes, and other forms of regeneration across the route, as shown in new reports published by Transport for London (TfL) and Arup.
The reports capture key outcomes, benefits and insights about the railway to get an early picture of its performance and will also serve to increase confidence in the impact of future transport investment in London and across the UK.
The newly published reports include a benefits report, Evidencing the value of the Elizabeth line, developed by TfL, and an evaluation study interim findings report, Elizabeth line post-opening evaluation: transport outcomes, developed by Arup in association with TfL and the Department for Transport. Combined, the reports cover the impacts of the railway through to October 2023, more than a year after the railway officially launched in May 2022.
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.
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.”
