Elizabeth line officially opens to public as first trains run on £19bn railway

The first trains have started operating on London's long-awaited Elizabeth line railway.

It will slash many journey times in the capital but is three-and-a-half years late and £4bn over budget. The line stretches from Reading and Heathrow Airport, through central London, to Abbey Wood in southeast London and Shenfield in Essex.

A crowd of about 300 gathered outside Paddington Station to be on the first service.

It departed on time at 6.33am with excited train enthusiasts recording the moment on social media.

Colin Kelso, 18, travelled from Glasgow and wore a hoody with "Purple train" on the front, in reference to the line's colour scheme.

"I want to get on the first train," he said. "I've always liked trains and have been keeping up to date with the project."