Our Ref:         FOI-2917-1819

Thank you for your request received on 31 January 2019 asking for information about staff employed to work on the Elizabeth Line. I apologise for the delay in my response.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.

Drivers and station staff who operate TfL Rail (to be the Elizabeth line) on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), are employed by MTR Crossrail.
 
There are 136 members of station staff employed that would have been deployed on the new central section of the railway but are being used to support other stations due to the delayed opening of the Elizabeth line. These staff are currently continuing training, shadowing staff at London Underground (LU) stations or working at TfL Rail stations between Liverpool Street and Shenfield as well as Paddington to Heathrow.
 
As of 2 February there were 358 qualified train drivers and 84 drivers in training. MTR Crossrail need to maintain their recruitment and training programme to ensure they have sufficient drivers for the TfL Rail routes as well as to support future services from Paddington to Reading. Drivers are also needed for testing through the central section ahead of the Elizabeth line opening.
 
In addition to the MTR Crossrail employed station staff, LU were preparing to transfer some of their existing staff members to stations that interfaced with the Elizabeth line. In the interim, they have been deployed to support other stations on the network.

If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]