The Elizabeth Line is the most significant addition to London’s transport network in a generation, and a perfect example of a transformational transport project.The new railway runs for more than 100km through central London – from Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east to Reading and Heathrow in the west. With 155 million passenger journeys in the first year of operation, and at least 200m in the second it has re-shaped life and travel in London and the South East through the provision of reduced journey times, additional capacity, and new connections with other services, transforming accessibility and improving economic prospects. 

This special event will explore in detail the way the line was planned, developed, financed and introduced during an era of changing travel behaviour and transport policy objectives and highlights some of the emerging socio-economic outcomes. Many of the experiences, impacts and lessons learnt are likely to be invaluable to the development of projects elsewhere in the UK - and beyond - including what has been learnt from the demand forecasting, business case development and user response monitoring processes.