How commuter rail can boost a local economy: A look at London’s Elizabeth line
How commuter rail can boost a local economy: A look at London’s Elizabeth line
Krzysztof Stachera, Market & Portfolio Director for Alstom’s commuter rail solutions, invites us to explore the transformative power of commuter rail. Through the lens of the recently inaugurated Elizabeth line in the UK, he highlights the role of efficient transport connections in shaping vibrant, thriving localities.
Krzysztof Stachera is a seasoned rail industry professional and has worked on a variety of multi-billion-euro rail projects throughout his career. He joined Alstom in 2015 as a Bid Technical Manager in Poland before going on to perform a variety of roles. He currently serves as Market and Portfolio Director for commuter rolling stock solutions, overseeing global commercial activities from Alstom’s engineering hub in Hennigsdorf, Germany. Before joining the rail industry, Krzysztof was involved in automation, robotics, and control theory research, earning a PhD from the Technical University of Braunschweig. Passionate about technology, Krzysztof maintains a healthy work-life balance by pursuing interests in sport, philosophy, history, and psychology.
Connect with Krzysztof on LinkedIn!
Hello Krzysztof. How can commuter rail boost a local economy?
Let’s start with a riddle. It’s going to add an estimated £42 billion to the UK economy, it’s led to the creation of 55,000 new homes and, during the construction phase, 60% of employment growth in Greater London occurred within a 1 km radius of its stations. Can you guess which project I’m talking about?
No idea! But it sounds like it’s making a big impact…
I’m talking about the Elizabeth line in London, which officially opened to the public on 24 May 2022. After decades of analysis, the UK Department for Transport and Transport for London (TfL) decided to launch this ambitious project in 2001, accepting the inherent risks and uncertainties of such a large-scale investment. The results not only met but exceeded expectations. In just two years, the Elizabeth line has become the fastest growing railway in the UK, adding billions to the UK economy and making a significant contribution to post-pandemic recovery by creating new opportunities for housing, leisure and employment along its route.
The line spans over 100 kilometres, or 60 miles, and runs through central London, serving 41 stations from east to west. With 24 trains operating per hour at peak times, or one train every two and a half minutes, the line has transformed travel across London and the South-East, providing faster, more direct journeys and alleviating congestion on existing lines. Some journey times have even been reduced by half, such as Abbey Wood to Liverpool street, which now takes 18 minutes instead of 45 minutes.
That’s pretty impressive! What was Alstom’s role in the project?
Our customer TfL has entrusted us to deliver a fleet of 80 state-of-the-art electric Aventra™ trains for the line, including ten additional trains ordered recently in June 2024. The modular trains present advanced features including a lightweight aluminium car body and Flexx Eco™ bogies with regenerative braking for better energy efficiency. The trains also offer modern amenities and an inclusive interior design to enhance passenger experience. Additionally, we managed the integration of three different signalling systems into the train design, ensuring compatibility with both new and existing railway infrastructure.
TfL has also entrusted us with a 32-year full maintenance contract, which includes the construction of a sustainable depot that emits 30% less CO2 and has 30% lower thermal energy demand for heating.
Is the Elizabeth line popular with commuters?
Very! With an average of 700,000 journeys on the line every weekday, passenger demand has been ahead of predictions and is expected to increase even further, prompting TfL to order ten additional trains in June 2024. In November 2024, the UK Office of Rail and Road confirmed the Elizabeth line’s leading role in restoring ridership into and around London.
To win over commuters, a rail transport system needs to be meticulously designed to ensure seamless connectivity between urban and suburban areas while ensuring a high-quality service. This can be achieved through six key factors: affordability, sustainability, digitalisation, reliability, availability and operability.
First, affordability. Our Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach balances acquisition, maintenance, and energy costs through optimised train designs, incorporating energy-efficient technologies that can reduce lifecycle costs by up to 40%. Next, sustainability: the Elizabeth line trains use fewer spare parts and less energy, while our sustainable depot utilises 30% renewable energy.
Digitalisation has significantly improved operations and maintenance, featuring advanced fleet monitoring, automatic vehicle inspections, and remote train operation. Our AI-driven predictive and condition-based maintenance extends the intervals between major component overhauls by 50%. A reliable service is key to winning over commuters; as part of its 32-year maintenance contract with TfL, Alstom ensures 99.9% service availability on the line. Finally, operability. The successful integration of three distinct signalling systems—local legacy, ETCS, and CBTC—has made the Elizabeth line the UK's first line with enhanced interoperability.
What do passengers love most about the new trains?
We are delighted to see that passengers are responding positively to the new rolling stock, as reflected by the ridership. The feedback we have received highlights significant time savings, with shorter journeys and fewer time-consuming changes for commuters from London’s suburbs. Additionally, passengers appreciate the comfort of the trains, which are spacious, clean, and air-conditioned, contributing to a pleasant travel experience.
Any final messages you’d like to share with our readers?
The Elizabeth line has revolutionised connectivity across London and the South-East. With over 350 million passenger journeys in its first two years of full commercial service, the Elizabeth line is one of the busiest lines in the country, accounting for one in every seven rail journeys in the fiscal year 2023/24. Its popularity has exceeded expectations and is a wonderful example of the exceptional service delivered by Alstom’s fleet. This project demonstrates that sustainable mobility is a driver for economic growth and the wellbeing of a community. The question is: which city will be the next to receive an economic boost?
The Aventra trains for growing Elizabeth line are now part of Alstom’s innovative Adessia™ commuter rail portfolio, designed to support cities and suburban areas all over the world to grow sustainably, accommodate increasing numbers of commuters and alleviate traffic congestion. More than 60 commuter systems worldwide enable 20+ million passengers to travel on commuter trains made by Alstom every day.
