Timetable changes to two key London Overground lines will come into force from this weekend, with Transport for London (TfL) promising greater capacity and less crowding for thousands of commuters.
TfL has announced changes to the Elizabeth line from Monday, May 18, which is aimed at easing pressure during the morning rush hour on one of the capital’s busiest routes.
Under the new timetable, more Elizabeth line services will stop at Southall, Hanwell and Acton Main Line stations on weekday mornings, providing extra capacity for west London passengers during peak travel times.
Three trains departing from Heathrow Terminal 5 will make additional stops at Southall, Hanwell and Acton Main Line between 7.30am and 9am each weekday.
The changes mean that during the busiest hour, between 8am and 9am, ten trains will stop at Southall, six at Hanwell and eight at Acton Main Line.
The update follows a detailed timetable review carried out with Network Rail as part of the twice-yearly rail timetable changes introduced each December and May.
Passengers are advised to plan ahead and check for minor adjustments to train times, as journeys may be affected across the Elizabeth line.
The new May 2026 timetable, which begins operation on Sunday, May 17, builds on earlier Elizabeth line changes introduced in December last year.
Those earlier updates added extra services from Gidea Park and Abbey Wood, with four additional trains per hour between Whitechapel and Paddington on Saturdays.
The increase — from 16 to 20 trains per hour between 11am and 8pm — was introduced in response to growing demand for weekend leisure travel, TfL said.
Trish Ashton, TfL’s Director of Rail, said: “The Elizabeth line is the UK’s single busiest railway service, carrying up to 800,000 customers on the busiest mid-week days. These timetable updates at west London stations will provide additional capacity during the peak hours of the morning, helping customers travel more comfortably on the line during this busier time.”
Meanwhile, TfL has also confirmed that 16 additional peak-time weekday services will be introduced on the Mildmay line between Clapham Junction and Shepherd’s Bush from next week.
The transport authority said the more frequent services will cut journey times and boost capacity in response to rising demand on the route.
Services to Shepherd’s Bush will depart from platform 17 at Clapham Junction, while existing Mildmay line services to Stratford will continue operating from platform 1.
TfL says the 16 extra weekday services will increase capacity on the route by 20 per cent during the morning peak and by 33 per cent in the afternoon peak, helping to reduce overcrowding and improve journeys during the busiest parts of the day.
The additional Mildmay line services are being funded through Olympia’s five-year agreement with TfL.
Michael Volkert, CEO of Olympia Estates, which operates the transformed destination, said: “As the all-new Olympia prepares to welcome visitors from across London and beyond, ensuring a straightforward journey here is a key priority.
“Alongside our strong local transport links, the additional services on the Mildmay line will make reaching Olympia's entertainment venues, hotels, restaurants, bars, and iconic halls more convenient than ever, and we're delighted to have played a part in making this happen.”
