New reports show that the Elizabeth line has powered the creation of jobs and homes across the line, particularly on the Abbey Wood branch. More than 90 per cent of customers surveyed say that the Elizabeth line has had a positive impact in their area. Businesses hail the transformative impact of the railway as it reaches yet another major milestone for passenger journeys. 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.”
Andy Lord, London's Transport Commissioner, said: “The Elizabeth line has truly transformed life and travel in London and the South East by dramatically improving transport links, cutting journey times, providing additional capacity, and transforming accessibility. “The findings from these reports confirm that the railway is powering important regeneration through new jobs and homes. As we look ahead to the next 500 million journeys, we will continue to focus on improving things for our customers, to ensure we remain London’s most popular railway.”
Kay Buxton, Chief Executive of The Paddington Partnership, said: “The increased mobility afforded by the Elizabeth line’s arrival in 2022 gave London’s office market that all important post-Covid shot-in-the-arm, and no location more so than Paddington, which saw a 150 per cent increase in office deals. Two and a half years later Paddington is the UK’s second busiest station and demand for office space and confidence in the location continues to grow, with a renewed public realm and phenomenal visitor numbers boosting the local hotel sector.”
Christofi Christou, President of the South East London Chamber of Commerce, said: “As the South East London Chamber of Commerce, feedback from our members, especially those in and around Thamesmead, has been that the arrival of the Elizabeth line to Abbey Wood has had a very positive impact in the running of their businesses and how they connect to customers and partners both locally and across London.” Councillor Averil Lekau, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “The opening of the Elizabeth line has been transformative for Royal Greenwich, bringing 1.2 million jobs within a 45-minute commute for our residents and encouraging new businesses to the local area. Major events like the Blue Earth Summit have come to Woolwich Works, which is a great coup, attracting over 7,000 visitors. It’s also helped to build even more interest from investors and developers, with the potential to provide significant new jobs in the borough – an estimated 28,000 jobs by 2051 – and new homes in Greenwich and the wider Thames Gateway area.”