Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that benefits of the new line will extend beyond London and the South East with the whole country “reaping the rewards” of a potential multibillion-pound boost to the economy created by the major infrastructure project.
The project has been in the making for a long time, with Crossrail being given an initial £14.8bn budget that slowly ballooned over time following repeated delays to stand at around £19bn.
Nine new stations are opening in central London which will provide Elizabeth line services every five minutes from 06:30 until 23:00, Monday to Saturday.
The new railway will also connect some of London’s major employment centres with outer boroughs and increase central London’s rail capacity by 10 per cent, the largest single increase in more than 70 years.
Throughout its construction, the railway has required an extensive supply chain that has supported businesses across the UK.
“As the Elizabeth line opens to...