TfL begins £1.8bn Elizabeth line capacity upgrade
Transport for London has formally started work on a £1.8 billion programme that will deliver 24 trains per hour in each direction through the Elizabeth line's central tunnel section by late 2027, up from today's 22 tph peak service.
The upgrade has three main strands. The first is a software-only enhancement to the European Train Control System fitted to the line's Class 345 fleet, allowing trains to run closer together at speed. The second is the extension and modification of platform edge doors at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street. The third — and most expensive — is the installation of two additional substations and resilience works on the 25kV overhead supply west of Paddington.
TfL Commissioner Andy Lord said the project would "convert latent capacity into actual capacity for passengers" and noted that the Elizabeth line was already the busiest railway in the United Kingdom by daily journeys, carrying more than 750,000 trips on a typical weekday.
What it means for passengers
Most works will take place overnight or during a series of pre-announced weekend closures of the central section, starting in October. TfL has committed to a minimum 12-week notice period for each closure, with replacement Tube and bus options confirmed in advance. Off-peak frequencies during weekdays are not affected.
Once complete, the line will be capable of carrying approximately 4,400 additional passengers per hour in each direction through the central core, easing the morning peak loading on the busiest section between Paddington and Liverpool Street.
Knock-on benefits
The capacity uplift is also expected to support TfL's wider plans for the Liverpool Street and Bond Street interchanges, where pedestrian flows have repeatedly hit congestion thresholds during the morning peak. A separate £180m programme of station enhancements at both interchanges is funded from the same Department for Transport settlement and will be delivered on the same timeline.
The funding package was confirmed alongside last year's multi-year transport settlement and is drawn down against pre-agreed milestones. TfL says the business case relies on continued passenger demand growth at or above 4% per year through 2027.
