The new Elizabeth line rail service in London will finally open to the public on 24 May after a delay of three-and-a-half years.
The London Underground line, also known as Crossrail, will initially see trains running every five minutes between Paddington and Abbey Wood.
The railway will link London Heathrow airport, Reading and Essex by travelling through central London. It will make it easier to reach the ExCeL exhibition centre in east London, which hosts Business Travel Show Europe on 29-30 June 2022, via the Custom House station.
The service will not operate on Sundays at first to allow engineering work to continue on the new line. Trains will also not initially call at the new Bond Street station in central London, which is yet to be completed.
Transport for London (TfL) commissioner Andy Byford said: “The opening day is set to be a truly historic moment for the capital and the UK, and we look forward to showcasing a simply stunning addition to our network.”
The line had originally been due to open in December 2018 before suffering multiple delays and cost increases with the Crossrail project now set to have a bill of around £20 billion.
All services from Heathrow and Reading to Paddington, as well as Shenfield to Liverpool Street, currently operating as TfL Rail, will be rebranded to the Elizabeth line as part of the opening.
ExCeL CEO Jeremy Rees said the Elizabeth line will cut journey times to the exhibition centre “by up to two-thirds”.
Visitors travelling to ExCeL from central London will be able to reach the venue in “as little as” 12 minutes, while the journey from Heathrow airport will take around 43 minutes.
“Following unprecedented times for us all, this year is critical to the recovery of the live events industry across London and the UK,” said Rees.
“Today’s announcement that the Elizabeth line will open on 24 May is undoubtedly a game-changer that will both revolutionise and spearhead that revival.”
• Business Travel Show Europe takes place at ExCeL London on 29-30 June.