Elizabeth line future operator shortlist announced by TFL

London has announced the four companies shortlisted to operate the Elizabeth line from May 2025, when the existing contract with MTR Elizabeth line expires.

They are Arriva UK Trains, First Keolis Elizabeth line (First Group PLC and Keolis SA), GTS Rail Operations Limited (Go Ahead Holdings Limited, Sumitomo Corporation and Tokyo Metro Co Ltd), and MTR Corporation (UK) Limited.

The contract will run on similar terms to the existing one for a period of seven years, with an option for a two-year extension at Tfl’s discretion. Tender documents will be issued to the four firms during April, with bids expected to be submitted in July. The Mayor of London will continue to be responsible for setting the fares, while TFL will market the services, specify service levels, and retain ticket revenue. Staff currently employed by

MTR Elizabeth line will transfer to the successor operator.

Tfl’s Elizabeth line director, Howard Smith, said: “The Elizabeth line has had a transformational impact, providing new, more direct journey options for customers, including at 10 new central London stations.

“We have introduced new, more spacious trains, which run more frequently through 41 stations that were either newly built or modernised, supporting hundreds of millions of customer journeys each year. The new Elizabeth line operator will play a major role in supporting us to continue that growth and success, providing high levels of customer service and satisfaction.” The Elizabeth line opened in May 2022 and provides services to Reading, Heathrow, Shenfield and Abbey Wood, running through central London. Since then, more than 300 million journeys have been made.