First look: New London Tube map with Elizabeth line is unveiled by TfL - see full Crossrail project route

The iconic Tube map has been redrawn to include the Elizabeth line, the biggest change to Harry Beck’s famous map in recent history.

Transport for London (TfL) has published the latest map that illustrates the new railway and its stations, with a white line with a double purple border, ahead of its launch next Tuesday.

What does new Tube map with Elizabeth line look like?

TfL says the double line has been used rather than a solid line to differentiate the Elizabeth line as a new railway as opposed to a London Underground line.

The new map also shows the London Overground extension to Barking Riverside, which will open later this year, and last week’s reopening of the Bank branch of the Northern line.

What has TfL said about Elizabeth line Tube map?

Julie Dixon, interim customer and revenue director, said: “Our world-renowned map now has another iconic addition in the Elizabeth line, which will serve London and the south east for hundreds of years to come.

“When we open on Tuesday May 24, the new Elizabeth line will begin providing greater connectivity and step-free access from Reading and Heathrow to Shenfield and Abbey Wood through the centre of London.

“This latest Tube map is a real credit to the team who have put it together.

“It has been both a challenge and a privilege to update Harry Beck’s original design to literally put a new piece of transport history on the map.

“This latest version takes into account a number of wider changes to the transport network, but will ensure Londoners and visitors alike are able to navigate around our transport network with ease.”

When will Crossrail’s Elizabeth line open?

The Crossrail project was due to open in December 2018, at a cost of £14.8bn, but this has risen to £20bn.

Crossrail said delays were due to major challenges with software, track signalling and installing equipment.

The Queen officially opened the route earlier this week, and the first part of line will open on May 24.

The Elizabeth line will initially run 12 trains per hour between Paddington and Abbey Wood, Monday to Saturday.

Initially trains will not run on Sundays or call at Bond Street.

The new Tube and rail line will operate as three separate railways, with services from Reading, Heathrow and Shenfield connecting with the central tunnels from autumn this year.

Sunday closures will also continue until the autumn to allow engineering and software upgrades, but a special Sunday service will operate on June 5 for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Once the route is open, services will run every five minutes between 6.30am and 11pm, although a full timetable will not be in place until May 2023.

This will mean a journey from Paddington to Canary Wharf will now take just 17 minutes, and when all routes are connected Londoners will be able to travel from Canary Wharf to Heathrow Airport in just 39 minutes.

Who designed the London Tube map?

The Tube map was originally the brainchild of Underground electrical draughtsman, Harry Beck, who produced the imaginative yet simple design for a diagrammatic map in 1931.

It was first published in 1933 and became a template for transport maps around the world. Nearly 90 years on, it remains a symbol of London.

What Tube stations will the Elizabeth line stop at?

When fully open the Elizabeth line will run from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

The route will use 42km of new tunnels beneath central London. Crossrail will serve 41 stations including 10 new stations at:

• Paddington
• Bond Street
• Tottenham Court Road
• Farringdon
• Liverpool Street
• Whitechapel
• Canary Wharf
• Custom House
• Woolwich
• Abbey Wood