Elizabeth line
The Elizabeth line is a new railway built by Crossrail Ltd. Opened on 24th May 2022, it stretches more than 100 km from Reading and Heathrow in West London through central tunnels across to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in South-East London.
At Trainline, we'll show you where the Elizabeth line can take you and how to book the cheapest fares for your journey.
To find cheap Elizabeth line tickets, simply start a search above, and we'll highlight the best available journey times and prices for you.
What is the Elizabeth line?
The Elizabeth line is a high-frequency hybrid commuter rail and rapid transit service that stretches from Reading in Berkshire and Heathrow Airport in West London to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in Essex, running on the following routes:
- On Crossrail in Central London between London Paddington and Abbey Wood
- Along the Great Western Main Line from London Paddington to Reading and Heathrow Airport in the west
- Along the Great Eastern Main Line between Liverpool Street and Shenfield in the east
At the moment, services are direct between London Paddington and Abbey Wood only. You’ll need to change if you’re travelling:
- Between Shenfield and the central section of the route – you’ll need to walk to/from the new Elizabeth line Liverpool Street station to continue your journey
- Between Reading or Heathrow and the central section of the route – you’ll need to walk to/from the new Paddington Elizabeth line station to continue your journey.
Services from Reading, Heathrow and Shenfield will connect with the central tunnels from autumn this year. When the final stage is complete, you’ll be able to travel seamlessly from Abbey Wood to Heathrow and Reading, and from Shenfield to Heathrow.
Why is it called Elizabeth line?
The service is named after Queen Elizabeth II, who officially opened the line on 17th May 2022 during her Platinum Jubilee year. Passenger services started on 24th May 2022.
What are Elizabeth line trains like?
The new Elizabeth line trains were built at Bombardier Transportation's UK site in Derby (the company is now owned by Alstom). They were first introduced on the route from Liverpool Street to Shenfield, and then on the Paddington to Reading routes of TfL Rail.
Travelling at speeds of up to 90 mph, the new trains are 200 metres long and come with nine walk-through carriages and space for around 1,500 passengers. On board, they offer:
- Air conditioning
- Information screens
- Dedicated wheelchair spaces in the fifth carriage
- Separate spaces for buggies and luggage through the train
- Energy-saving intelligent lighting and temperature controls
- Free Wi-Fi on platforms (WiFi access within the tunnels will be introduced later in 2022)
- Three sets of double doors along each carriage to make it quicker and easier for customers to get on and off the train.
Elizabeth line stations
10 stations in Central London were built by Crossrail Ltd for the new Elizabeth line, while other stations on the line have been upgraded. Keep reading for more details.
Stations in Central London
Stations on the route from Liverpool Street to Shenfield
Stations on the routes from Paddington to Heathrow and Reading
Popular Elizabeth line train routes
Have a look at some of the most popular routes served by the Elizabeth line below – simply tap the route you’re interested in to check train times, compare ticket prices, and learn more about the train journey.
How to get cheap Elizabeth line train tickets
If you're after cheap train tickets for Elizabeth line routes, check out our top tips below and see how you could bag yourself a bargain. We'll even highlight the cheapest prices for you! To view the latest offers on UK train travel, visit our train deals and discounts page.
Travel Off-Peak
To snap up the cheapest fares, travel Off-Peak – tickets are usually cheaper during quieter times on weekdays and weekends compared to Peak times. Learn more about Off-Peak train times.
Buy a Railcard
If you’re travelling quite frequently on the Elizabeth line, why not get a Railcard? It’s a discount card that costs just £30 a year and it helps you save up to 1/3 on eligible journeys. Find out more about Railcards.
Use GroupSave
Travelling with a group of 3 to 9 people? With GroupSave, you can get up to 34% off eligible single and return journeys at Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak times. Find out more about GroupSave.
Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered some of your most frequently asked questions about Elizabeth line trains below.
When will the Elizabeth line open?
The Elizabeth line opened on 24th May 2022. Her Majesty the Queen officially opened the line at London Paddington station on 17th May 2022.
Where does the Elizabeth line go?
The Elizabeth line runs from Reading and Heathrow in the West, through 42 km of new tunnels under London to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in the East.
How many Elizabeth line services are there?
The new service has started with 12 trains an hour (a train every 5 minutes) running between Paddington and Abbey Wood from 06:30 to 23:00, Monday to Saturday.
Work will continue outside those hours, on Sundays and selected full weekends to allow for any testing and software updates. The number of trains running through the central area is expected to nearly double and direct journeys from the East and West through the tunnel will be possible from autumn 2022.
Is the Elizabeth line a tube line?
No, the Elizabeth line is not a tube line. However, it will be fully integrated with London Underground network.
Find out more about UK train travel
Want to learn more about the UK rail network? Click on one of our UK train travel guides – we’ll provide you with all the information you need about UK train and ticket types, deals and discounts, popular destinations, and more.