Elizabeth Line rolling stock will now operate on the route to the west of the capital under ‘TfL Rail’ branding until 2021, when Crossrail’s central section beneath London is expected to complete.

This comes after the new trains began using the project’s eastern leg from Liverpool Street to Shenfield in 2015. TfL Rail took over services between Paddington and Heathrow Airport in May 2018.

“I’m excited to welcome customers on the London Paddington to Reading line to TfL Rail,” said Transport for London operations director Howard Smith. “This is an important step towards opening the Elizabeth Line.”

Economic development company Reading UK’s executive director Nigel Horton-Baker commented: “With the introduction of TfL Rail trains and contactless ticketing as a precursor to the full opening of the Elizabeth Line, Reading is now literally on the London transport network map, helping further the business relationships between London and the capital of the Thames Valley.”

Improvements are also being made to stations along the route, with several set to get new ticket halls and lifts, as well as benches and shelters in waiting areas and improved electronic signage.

Launch of TfL Rail services between London and Reading followed publication of Transport for London’s draft five year business plan on Friday, covering the period from 2020/21 to 2024/25.

It says that delays to Crossrail have ‘created significant additional capital investment and revenue pressures’, requiring up to £1.35Bn in lost revenue to be absorbed over the next four financial years.

Further priorities in the business plan include completing signalling and capacity upgrades on the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and District lines, continuing the electrification of the capital’s buses and expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I am hugely proud of what we have achieved improving transport across London despite the ongoing economic uncertainty and the average reduction of £700M per year in TfL's funding from central Government.”

He also called on the Government to recognise the importance of continued investment in new infrastructure, including “vital projects” such as Crossrail 2 and the Bakerloo Line extension.

(Photograph: TfL)