Tokyo Metro Wins Contract for London Elizabeth Line

Transport for London has awarded a contract to a joint venture led by Tokyo Metro, along with Sumitomo Corporation and Go-Ahead Group, to operate the Elizabeth Line starting May 2025. This marks the first time Tokyo Metro will manage a line outside Japan, promising to enhance reliability and service frequency on the line, which has faced operational challenges since its launch in May 2022. The Elizabeth Line, which connects central London to Heathrow and carries over 700,000 passengers daily, will benefit from Japanese standards of punctuality, with Tokyo Metro aiming to improve current performance metrics. The new contract is set for seven years, with a two-year extension option, and is intended to prepare the line for increased service demands when a new HS2 station opens in 2030. Previous operator MTR, which faced scrutiny due to reliability issues and shifting political relations, will be replaced by this consortium. The partnership reflects a broader trend of international collaboration in public transport management.