The Elizabeth line stretches more than 100km from Reading and Heathrow in the west through central tunnels across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
People Also Ask
Reading is the new western terminus of the Elizabeth Line, reachable on direct trains in under an hour from central London. When you step off the trains in Reading, the River Thames, the town centre attractions, great shopping and eating out are all within a short walk of the station.
Reading has made its arrival on the famous London Underground map and is now classed as part of the Tube network. It is the first Tube map to show Crossrail - also known as the TfL rail - branching out to Reading. Other stops now featured are Maidenhead, Slough, Langley, Burnham and Twyford.
Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, National Rail, River Bus and IFS Cloud Cable Car. Touch in on a yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end. To pay the right fare: Always use the same device or contactless card to touch in and out.
Does the Elizabeth line accept the Oyster card? You can use Oyster to get between any stations in zones 1-6, as well as all the way out to Shenfield in the east. Stations beyond West Drayton to the west, however, do not accept Oyster.
Contactless payment cards are accepted at all stations on the Elizabeth line, or if you use an Oyster card, you can buy a paper ticket if you're travelling beyond West Drayton.
Travel free on bus, tram, Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line. You can travel free on TfL services with your Older Person's Freedom Pass from 09:00 weekdays and anytime at weekends and on bank holidays.
On 17 May 2022, the line was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in honour of her Platinum Jubilee. She was not scheduled to attend the event, but decided to attend with her son, Prince Edward, to unveil the plaque commemorating the official opening.
The average journey time by train between Reading and London Paddington is 41 minutes, with around 387 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.
The Elizabeth line stretches more than 100km from Reading and Heathrow in the west through central tunnels across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. Get helpful tips for travelling on our newest railway.
A Travelcard (in the zones it's valid for) gives you unlimited travel at any time on bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services in London. You can use it on all buses, and if valid in zones 3, 4, 5 or 6, on all trams. Travelcards can start on any day.
The Elizabeth line is not one of the few Transport for London services to run an all-night timetable, but its trains do start quite early in the morning and run late at night. Only five Tube lines run a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays: the Victoria, Piccadilly, Jubilee, Central and Northern lines.
Buses, trams and trainsTravel free on bus, tram, Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line. You can travel free on TfL services with your Older Person's Freedom Pass from 09:00 weekdays and anytime at weekends and on bank holidays.
Your bus pass is valid for use on all registered Bus services within England, so if you are visiting other places you should be able to use your pass. It is not valid in Wales* or Scotland.
Contactless pay as you go can now be used on both GWR and TfL Rail services between Reading and London Paddington. Now there's no need to top up or queue for tickets at the station. As contactless pay as you go is based on single fares, it may not always be the cheapest way to pay for a journey.
The 60+ Oyster card is effectively an off-peak season ticket, so it's valid to buy a ticket from boundary of zone 6 to Reading and use that in conjunction with the 60+ Oyster.
What other stations do trains call at? The fastest direct trains from London Paddington call directly at Reading. Other slower services call at Ealing Broadway, Southall, Hayes & Harlington, West Drayton, Slough, Burnham (Bucks), Taplow, Maidenhead and Twyford.
Is it cheaper to use Oyster or contactless? As both cards use the same Pay As You Go system and are compatible with the TfL Oyster & Contactless app, the costs are comparable. As a tourist in London, it can be worth getting an Oyster Card as part of the London Pass.
The trains and tunnelsThe Elizabeth line is unique on the London Underground in that surface stock trains – as big as the S stock than run on the Metropolitan and District lines – run in tube tunnels under the Capital, and far out into Berkshire and Essex on the surface.
Elizabeth Line, GWR, South Western Railway are the main train operating companies running services between Reading and Canary Wharf (Elizabeth line). There are 4 possible routes with the shortest and most direct being Reading to Canary Wharf (Elizabeth Line). The fastest journey time on this route takes 55 mins.