Request ID: FOI-0538-2223 Date published: 23 June 2022
You asked
The Elizabeth line currently runs a service of 4 trains per hour to West Ealing in each direction. In particular, i note that the trains that go from Paddington to Reading and vice versa do not stop at West Ealing.
There is talk about increasing frequency as the remaining phases of the Elizabeth line are completed. I am looking for information about
(a) the frequency of service that is planned once Phase 2 of the Elizabeth Line is completed this fall (ie the phase which will see services from Heathrow and Reading continue directly to Abbey Wood without needing to changeover at Paddington); and
(b) the frequency of service after the final phase is completed.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0538-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 6 June 2022, asking for information about the Elizabeth Line.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked for:
the frequency of service that is planned once Phase 2 of the Elizabeth Line is completed this fall (ie the phase which will see services from Heathrow and Reading continue directly to Abbey Wood without needing to changeover at Paddington); and
In Autumn 2022 we plan to run the Elizabeth line train services from the west of London directly into the Central operating section. Services will run through to Abbey Wood, stopping at all stations from Paddington. Service frequencies at West Ealing will remain at 4 trains per hour (tph).
the frequency of service after the final phase is completed.
From May 2023 we expect service frequencies to the west of London to be 6 trains per hour from Heathrow, 4tph /2tph (peak/off peak) from Reading and 2tph all day from Maidenhead. These will also run into the central operating section. This timetable has not yet been finalised: it is currently planned that West Ealing will receive 4tph, but we will continue to explore opportunities to increase the frequencies of calls at West Ealing. Introducing additional calling points to passenger trains lengthens journey times and reduces overall capacity for train services and so there are a series of trade-offs that need to be made. The timetable needs to include sufficient capacity for freight trains: these operate on the same Network Rail tracks as the Elizabeth line. There is an increasing demand for freight trains and this needs to be balanced with the passenger capacity allocation.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
