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Nine questions and answers about the Elizabeth line – for people who don’t live in London

Around 1,000 rail enthusiasts travelled on the first Elizabeth line passenger train from London Paddington this morning. The new link is the latest addition to the capital’s transport network, which includes the world’s oldest Underground railway.

People from outside south east England may not be entirely clear what all the fuss is about.

1. What’s the big idea?

A new tunnel beneath London that allows trains to run direct from Heathrow airport and Reading, west of the capital, to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in southeast London, with access to key stations including Paddington, Bond Street, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf.

The aim is to accelerate journeys and ease the strain on the world’s oldest underground railway system. A key stretch from Paddington to Farringdon parallels the original tunnel – but delivers passengers more comfortably and in about half the time.

2. How much did the Elizabeth Line cost – and what has the money bought?

£19bn. The main cost has been digging deep tunnels beneath central London to connect Paddington station in the west with Liverpool Street station and Whitechapel in the east plus the spur to Canary Wharf and Abbey Wood in southeast London.

3. On time, on budget?

No: three-and-a-half years later than planned, and £4bn over budget.

4. Yet at least now it’s open?

Not exactly. The Elizabeth line is running in three separate segments, with connections between the parts at Paddington and Liverpool Street stations. The east and west parts are on existing lines, just with new purple trains.

An analogy would be a promised link connecting Liverpool with Manchester, Leeds and Hull that requires passengers to change twice between the Mersey and the Humber.

5. Will it ever join up?

Yes: within a year the full system should be working. Andy Byford, commissioner of Transport for London, told The Independent this morning that it was always the plan to open in phases.

6. Any other glitches?

Yes: no trains will run on the central section on Sundays until further notice except for a special Jubilee weekend service on 5 June. One of the key central London stations, Bond Street has not yet opened.

7. Do we actually need it now that commuting habits have changed after Covid?

That remains to be seen. At present rail and Underground ridership is still below 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Ticket revenue for Transport for London is way down on predictions – and the lost earnings due to the Elizabeth line being so late has also made a mess of the finances.

But the leaders backing the new line say we have to look to the future – London mayor Sadiq Khan told me: “It is genuinely 22nd-century fit: spacious, speedy, silent, comfortable.”

8. Does it have any relevance to the rest of the UK?

Mr Khan insists it does, saying:“It’s going to contribute £42bn towards the national economy every year.” Visitors to the capital should enjoy faster and less crowded journeys.

9. Do I need a special ticket?

The line is integrated with the London Underground ticketing system, and the same “zone” system applies – between Abbey Wood and Paddington costs £4.30 during the peak (Monday to Friday from 0630 to 0930) and £3.10 at other times. There’s a surcharge of £7.20 to and from Heathrow Airport.