Heathrow Connect - strike action

[Carlisle]

Thanks for explaining things ,I always assumed the rules were the same as for most other DOO lines with tunnels using non corridor stock

 

[berneyarms]

Heathrow Express has the right but no obligation to continue.

Surely if the loadings are high on the stopping services out of Paddington then having HEX replaced by another 4 stopping services an hour would help?

Indeed, but personally I can see a market for both services.

Peak loadings out of Paddington are high on the stopping services, and will remain so when Crossrail starts - if anything more people will be attracted to the route. Peak loads to/from the Airport are high on the HEX already, and I'm not particularly sure that people are going to want to be crammed in with their luggage and the heavy commuter loads.

I tried it recently on an evening peak trip from Paddington on the Connect and it was somewhat uncomfortable given I had luggage with me.

The HEX has the advantage that it is designed primarily for passengers with luggage rather than commuters.

 

[jon0844]

Whatever anyone thinks about the cost of HEX, it has to stay in my opinion.

 

[Deerfold]

Whatever anyone thinks about the cost of HEX, it has to stay in my opinion.

Because?

 

[PermitToTravel]

A "****, I need to get to the airport now" option?

 

[Muzer]

Also a good (if expensive) first impression of our rail service, and, by extension, country, for tourists. In fact, that pretty much sums up our entire rail service - good (if expensive)

 

[whoosh]

When it opened, Heathrow Express cost more per mile than a trip on Concorde (with it's Silver Service dining arrangements and free champagne). The price came down a bit, but Concorde has since been scrapped. Does anyone know if Heathrow Express is currently more per mile than any First Class flight in the world (with their free champagne)?

Heathrow Connect is cheaper, but there is still plenty of ££ surcharge for the Hayes & Harlington to Heathrow bit of the journey. You'd have thought a bit of customer service in the form of staff would be given in exchange for the expense of your ticket!

 

[Wolfie]

When it opened, Heathrow Express cost more per mile than a trip on Concorde (with it's Silver Service dining arrangements and free champagne). The price came down a bit, but Concorde has since been scrapped. Does anyone know if Heathrow Express is currently more per mile than any First Class flight in the world (with their free champagne)?

Heathrow Connect is cheaper, but there is still plenty of ££ surcharge for the Hayes & Harlington to Heathrow bit of the journey. You'd have thought a bit of customer service in the form of staff would be given in exchange for the expense of your ticket!

my bold

That is BAA making money back for the investment they made on that piece of infrastructure.

 

[starrymarkb]

Are they striking next week aswell?

Going to be fun doing the T5-Central Bus station transfer if so (I have about 2hrs from arrival so should be ok time wise)

 

[Deerfold]

Are they striking next week aswell?

Going to be fun doing the T5-Central Bus station transfer if so (I have about 2hrs from arrival so should be ok time wise)

No. Just this week.

I'm currently looking at Heathrow - Waterloo options for next week...

 

[richardderby]

bus to Feltham or richmond and SWT....

Heathrow to Feltham
Bus route 285

The 285 bus runs from Heathrow to Feltham for trains to Richmond, Camberley, Bracknell, London Waterloo and Clapham Junction (for connections to southern England). At night the N285 operates every 30 minutes along the same route.

Frequency: Up to every 10 minutes.
Journey time: Approximately 30 minutes.
Fare: Single under £5.

More information: www.tfl.gov.uk or +44 (0)20 7222 1234.
Bus route 490

The 490 bus runs from Terminal 5 to Richmond via Terminal 4, Hatton Cross and Feltham station.

Frequency: Up to every 12 minutes.
Journey time: Approximately 30 minutes.

 

[starrymarkb]

No. Just this week.

I'm currently looking at Heathrow - Waterloo options for next week...

Thanks Looks like our work system is incorrect as it says strikes this week and next (will have a word with the boss to email data bods!)

 

[berneyarms]

bus to Feltham or richmond and SWT....

Heathrow to Feltham
Bus route 285

The 285 bus runs from Heathrow to Feltham for trains to Richmond, Camberley, Bracknell, London Waterloo and Clapham Junction (for connections to southern England). At night the N285 operates every 30 minutes along the same route.

Frequency: Up to every 10 minutes.
Journey time: Approximately 30 minutes.
Fare: Single under £5.

More information: www.tfl.gov.uk or +44 (0)20 7222 1234.
Bus route 490

The 490 bus runs from Terminal 5 to Richmond via Terminal 4, Hatton Cross and Feltham station.

Frequency: Up to every 12 minutes.
Journey time: Approximately 30 minutes.

Or the 140 from Heathrow Central to Hayes & Harlington and First Great Western from there.

 

[Deerfold]

Or the 140 from Heathrow Central to Hayes & Harlington and First Great Western from there.

Yes, Feltham and Hayes and Harlington were the options I was looking at.

I'd almost be better arriving a few hours later and getting the N9 most of the way - but I chose Heathrow over Gatwick for the first time for this journey as it's a couple of hours earlier and I thought getting in from Heathrow would be easier :roll:

Just to be more annoying I'm arriving at T5 so it'd be the 490 to Feltham or 350 to H&H (both a little less frequent).

Need to remember my normal Oystercard (as opposed to my staff Oystercard) or it could be pricey.

 

[Aictos]

Is Heathrow Connect expected to run a normal service on the 7th May?

 

[starrymarkb]

Is Heathrow Connect expected to run a normal service on the 7th May?

That's what I'm hoping (well HEX from T123-T5).

Do have about 2 hours though

 

[Aictos]

That's what I'm hoping (well HEX from T123-T5).

Do have about 2 hours though

Usually I'm happy to take the relaxing route via the Piccadilly line but as I think they have industrial action, I'm going on the Connect instead.

 

[Deerfold]

Usually I'm happy to take the relaxing route via the Piccadilly line but as I think they have industrial action, I'm going on the Connect instead.

Yes - today they're every 20 minutes - and only as far as Acton Town...probably not that relaxing.

 

[davetheguard]

Those trains have on-board staff?! That's news to me.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


The inner GWML runs as a free railway anyway as there are no inspections on FGW trains (and in my experience no inspections on Heathrow trains)

I recently made a journey to the Airport via Hayes on Heathrow Connect, and back again 12 days later; tickets were checked on the Heathrow Connect train on both occasions.

While waiting at Hayes & Harlington on the way back for a connecting Turbo, I was struck by how many people were touching in with their Oyster cards at the reader on the (barrierless) entrance to the up platform. Bleep! every few seconds. So plenty of fares being paid on Fahad's "free" raiway.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

As I understand it Heathrow Express did an agreement for 25 years use of their four fast line paths an hour from 1998, when they started. This expires in 2023, four years after Crossrail starts, and it seems they are just not going to get an extension. So no HEx after 2023. Serves them right for consistently turning their back on Oyster. Given that, they will be starting to look for options of what to do with trains, infrastructure and crew. The most sensible thing would be to get bought out by Crossrail, in the style in which TfL also bought out the Underground maintenance PPP contractors.


What a nonsense. Whatever does he think the Piccadilly Line does - far cheaper, and for much of Central London actually faster end-to-end as well - and in many respects more convenient.

I too have never seen any staff in the passenger saloons on the occasions I've used the Connect.

By 2023 the class 442s that are used on the Gatwick Express will probably be knackered, they could use at least the 360s on the Gatwick Express. By that time the 332s will be about 25 years old so they may or may not be in a state to be used on the Gatwick Express

 

[455driver]

By 2023 the class 442s that are used on the Gatwick Express will probably be knackered, they could use at least the 360s on the Gatwick Express. By that time the 332s will be about 25 years old so they may or may not be in a state to be used on the Gatwick Express

Deleted-

I see what SP means now, cascading the stock from HX onto GX.

 

[hassaanhc]

By 2023 the class 442s that are used on the Gatwick Express will probably be knackered, they could use at least the 360s on the Gatwick Express. By that time the 332s will be about 25 years old so they may or may not be in a state to be used on the Gatwick Express

There are only five 5-car 360/2 units used on the Heathrow Connect (well one is for the Heathrow Express shuttle between terminals), it creates the issue of where such a small fleet could be moved to. Abellio Greater Anglia already have some but in 4-car units. Or what about adding third rail pickup equipment and SWT take them on to use?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

There are only five 5-car 360/2 units used on the Heathrow Connect (well one is for the Heathrow Express shuttle between terminals), it creates the issue of where such a small fleet could be moved to. Abellio Greater Anglia already have some but in 4-car units. Or what about adding third rail pickup equipment and SWT take them on to use?

That's another possibility, if the 3rd rail pickup was added and the corridor connections put in place at the ends (given the modular nature of the Desiros would that be a long and costly job), they could be used for extra space on peak time trains.

There must be times of the day when a 450 is nearly packed but two 450s coupled together would be overkill.

If used on any route but the Gatwick Express, the cost of removing some of the luggage racks might need to be factored in. Then again Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth are popular seaside towns and the extra luggage space might come in handy during the peak holiday season

 

[theageofthetra]

Often wondered about the T4 shuttle, is one unit (or set of) just used for this turn or do they swap it every now and then? Also is there a special link for working it? Must be up there with the Bromley North shuttle for dull turns!

 

[starrymarkb]

Often wondered about the T4 shuttle, is one unit (or set of) just used for this turn or do they swap it every now and then? Also is there a special link for working it? Must be up there with the Bromley North shuttle for dull turns!

One dedicated unit in HEx livery and worse then Bromley north as the drivers only work in one direction (due to the very short turnarounds their is a driver in each cab)

 

[SpacePhoenix]

One dedicated unit in HEx livery and worse then Bromley north as the drivers only work in one direction (due to the very short turnarounds their is a driver in each cab)

Wouldn't an automated light rail train be better for that route (btw how long is that route)?

 

[starrymarkb]

Wouldn't an automated light rail train be better for that route (btw how long is that route)?

It's about 3-5 mins each way.

Originally HEx ran to T4 but changed to T5 when that opened. Connect was extended to T4 but then was cut back to T123 (wonder if HEx passengers didn't like finding themselves on a Paddington Bound Connect and having to change at T123 for an Express when they could have stayed on the train and possibly had a cheaper ride) with the T4 shuttle being introduced. I understand the Connect runs empty to T5 to reverse now.

Crossrail will take over the T4 branch from 2018ish

 

[E16 Cyclist]

There are only five 5-car 360/2 units used on the Heathrow Connect (well one is for the Heathrow Express shuttle between terminals), it creates the issue of where such a small fleet could be moved to. Abellio Greater Anglia already have some but in 4-car units. Or what about adding third rail pickup equipment and SWT take them on to use?

Its not that simple though as BAA own the units outright and they aren't leased, therefore you have to wonder who'd be in a position to buy them

 

[Monty]

I still reckon they may get sold abroad to Thailand, they have a small network that serves the capital's airport and there are plans for expansion in the near future. The system uses the 360s and the only major differences is the air con units and the seating layout which can be changed with little fuss thanks to the Desiro's modular nature. I keep saying it but people don't seem to want to accept the fact the units future may lie elsewhere other than the UK after Crossrail.

 

[paulravuslante]

Often wondered about the T4 shuttle, is one unit (or set of) just used for this turn or do they swap it every now and then? Also is there a special link for working it? Must be up there with the Bromley North shuttle for dull turns!

All HEx drivers are rostered on T4 turns. There are mostly separate diagrams for covering the shuttle but a few select diagrams require a driver to passenger to / from T4.

There are a few hardcore group of drivers who like to get the T4 shifts as they live closer to the airport than Paddington and they swap with those who prefer 'proper' shifts starting elsewhere.

Sunday is usually the maintenance day for the T4 unit (360205) as the service there is covered by the three units on Connect duties. However it can be swapped if needed on Connect duties depending on the status of the other units and a single 332 unit can sometimes be put on the shuttle also.