Elizabeth line: Operator MTR loses bid to renew its contract

“The Elizabeth line has had a transformational impact since opening in 2022 and has quickly become one of the most popular and reliable railways in the country,” Ms Mann said.

The contract will begin in May and lasts for seven years, with an option to extend for an additional two, TfL said.

The deal follows a recent government pledge to renationalise nearly all passenger rail services within five years.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said the move “risks further short-changing passengers and undermining the financial sustainability of the capital’s transport system”.

“It is deeply concerning that while other parts of our rail network are being brought back into public hands, the Elizabeth Line is being left to funnel profits to private operators.”