The problem with the 'Tube map' is that it's not particularly useful beyond displaying railway lines with some visual clarity. By calling it a map and presenting it to visitors to London as a map can give the misleading impression that it's more useful than it actually is.
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TfL Rail - confusing map
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Now added to the tube map (via Geofftech):
https://twitter.com/geofftech/status/995970028016193536?s=21
https://twitter.com/geofftech/status/995970028016193536?s=21
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paulravuslante
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The lack of info on the Connect operating to T5 is deliberate. Firstly Hex wanted more people to head to the premium service. Secondly if any disruption occurred to the T4 shuttle then the Connect would be diverted to T4. Having driven these trains we would set up the PIS to the correct destination if we were given a heads up but sometimes it was changed at the last minute.
There was a recent spell when all Connects reverted to T4 due to a shortage of drivers.
HAL specifies a minimum of 4 trains per hour between each of the terminals, so that requirement passes to TfL from the 20th. TfL have chosen to operate 2 trains through from London and 2 shuttle services at slightly revised timings from anything that has gone previously. It will remain to be seen how resilient this operation is during times of disruption.
The increased provision of Connect stopping trains on Sundays has been common every summer since I have worked at Heathrow but it appears TfL will continue to run these until December. When it's a two track railway on Sunday's this usually means that there is no time saving to taking Hex as the slower trains cannot be overtaken.
There was a recent spell when all Connects reverted to T4 due to a shortage of drivers.
HAL specifies a minimum of 4 trains per hour between each of the terminals, so that requirement passes to TfL from the 20th. TfL have chosen to operate 2 trains through from London and 2 shuttle services at slightly revised timings from anything that has gone previously. It will remain to be seen how resilient this operation is during times of disruption.
The increased provision of Connect stopping trains on Sundays has been common every summer since I have worked at Heathrow but it appears TfL will continue to run these until December. When it's a two track railway on Sunday's this usually means that there is no time saving to taking Hex as the slower trains cannot be overtaken.
matt_world2004
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did the connect not used to run on Sundays then or did the hex stop at other stops on Sundays? Because I'm sure it's always been 2tph even on Sunday,
paulravuslante
Member
No the Connect is chrrently 1 per hour on Sundays between September and May / June and has been the case in all previous years. If you check a current GWR or Heathrow Connect timetable you can see it is 1 per hour.
Hex trains were routed along the same lines when a two track railway was in operation but didn’t make stops. It is a slow run usually with some recovery time built into the timetable on trains arriving at the airport.
matt_world2004
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I didnt know that, cheers. I speculate the aim of TFL would be eventually to provide a consistent 4 tph to heathrow on a sunday with the shuttle service eventually becoming a through rail service when the 345s enter into service. I suspect the only reason they are not running 4tph now is the need to access the bay platform at hayes which I suspect is closed to traffic when there is a posession on the slow lines.
A huge part of the heathrow connects reliability issues is caused by it being cannibalised whenever there are problems with the express that should stop from the 20th may.
Which has apparently happened again this morning.
It's really pathetic that the DfT has never done anything about this. Excuses such as "we don't franchise the Connect to Heathrow so nuffin' to do wiv me, mate" don't cut it. The service uses a lot of public infrastructure and carries the public that the DfT are meant to manage transport for. It just needs someone at the top there to say that if there's disruption, you can the Express FIRST.
matt_world2004
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The Heathrow connect had a 10.5% cancellation rate that was worse than GTR
paulravuslante
Member
Today’s problems are caused by overrunning engineering works.
Nobody at the top needs to arrange anything regarding this now as from next week TfL will be hiring the 360s from Hex.
matt_world2004
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The broken down trains was caused by a fault with the Heathrow Express stock. HEx moved the connects to express duties as a result, an option that will not happen in future.
Staff shortages in the connect/express driver pool also saw connects being cancelled. Again unless MTR have messed up hugely should not happen.
A potential risk is signal failures on the Heathrow branch caused by the introduction of 345s which are apparently having problems with the Heathrow branches signalling system.
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paulravuslante
Member
TfL will fine MTR for any cancellations so MTR have a vested interest to work with Siemens and get the 360 fleet back to their previous reliable levels.
Hex had no interest in improving the 360s whatsoever the past year as they would be surplus to requirements. Likewise with the 332s now seeing as they will be GWRs problem come August!
Joe Paxton
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Agreed.
The way HEOC (Heathrow Express Operating Company) managed the Connect service always seemed pretty shabby, and when it came to times of disruption, providing information and taking ownership seemed to fall in a gap between FGW/GWR and HEOC - i.e. neither took the lead, both took the back seat.
How things are handled under TfL custodianship is rather different.
700007
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Indeed, the Heathrow Connect has been driven by TfL Rail staff for the last year or so.
matt_world2004
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I speculate mtr signed a concession agreement with heathrow airport holdings to run the connect. It would have been a mutually benefical agreement. Ensuring a smooth transition to the tfl concession.
paulravuslante
Member
Yes something like that however overall operational responsibility still remains with Hex until the end of the week.
One or two trips per day were still driven by Hex staff to maintain their competence on the 360s.
Just noticed that some of the cars have the TfL Rail sticker on them now.
In other news, a late running service ran fast through Ealing without warning this morning. It caught the station staff off guard who had to quickly shout "stand back, yellow line" etc. Absolutely shambolic.
In other news, a late running service ran fast through Ealing without warning this morning. It caught the station staff off guard who had to quickly shout "stand back, yellow line" etc. Absolutely shambolic.
700007
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Yep, 360205 was the first unit to get done.
matt_world2004
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Any changes to the PIS and automated announcements?
It all sounded the same - but I wasn't really listening. The platform display was changed to "Heathrow Terminal 5" a few weeks ago IIRC - before that it used to say something along the lines of "Heathrow Connect" I think.
Tube maps inside also.
SevenEightNine
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The overly repetitive CCTV & smoking announcement was removed a while ago, probably in prep for the changeover. "Please have your ticket ready for inspection" still goes off after every station, though. Don't know if further changes have been made yet.
matt_world2004
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I am surprised they didn't keep the no smoking and CCTV message considering West ealing hanwell, Southall and hayes are less than salubrious areas . I am really curious if the message about oyster cards not being valid beyond hayes and harlington has been kept.
Trailfinder
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Just been on 13:33 from Pad.
Toilet not working.
No onboard announcements.
Is this a sign of things to come!!!
Why can't this interim service still be called Heathrow Connect?
Toilet not working.
No onboard announcements.
Is this a sign of things to come!!!
Why can't this interim service still be called Heathrow Connect?
Emblematic
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As this is still the old lot running the service, why would it be a sign of things to come?
matt_world2004
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A status message has just come up on tfl rail citymapper saying that freedom passes/oyster cards are not valid on the heathrow connect between heathrow and hayes and harlington. I assume this is because people have seen the trains out and and about and tried or is there a delayed implementation.
You snitch
Yes HAL specify 4 trains an hour but the trains to T4 were at such shocking intervals, I hope that one day it can be fixed. An ex-Padd Connect would leave T23 at 36/06 then the T4 shuttle left 14/44.
@paulravuslante If the 332s cock up, will they still be able to take back a 360 like before? Saying that, they can use our soon to be outgoing 313s
paulravuslante
Member
TfL will have an even 15 min frequency in the down direction Mon to Sat and in the up on Sundays. Bit hit and miss in the reverse directions but better than the original timetable at least.You snitch
Yes HAL specify 4 trains an hour but the trains to T4 were at such shocking intervals, I hope that one day it can be fixed. An ex-Padd Connect would leave T23 at 36/06 then the T4 shuttle left 14/44.
No, most 360s now branded for TfL Rail and PIS says Hex tickets not valid, so wouldnt be a good look to borrow one. Even though 205 is still in ‘limited edition’ Hex livery@paulravuslante If the 332s cock up, will they still be able to take back a 360 like before? Saying that, they can use our soon to be outgoing 313s
matt_world2004
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The london connections map appears to indicate that the heathrow express and tfl rail services are at different stations while both being in zone 6.
SWT_USER
Member
Can freedom passes be used at peak times in to Paddington from tomorrow?
Also is there any news on when Hanwell/ Acton Main Line will go 4tph? Both stations will have a poor service by TFL standards - although Hanwell's service will improve anyway as they will no longer have to suffer the clowns at Heathrow Connect running the service
Also is there any news on when Hanwell/ Acton Main Line will go 4tph? Both stations will have a poor service by TFL standards - although Hanwell's service will improve anyway as they will no longer have to suffer the clowns at Heathrow Connect running the service
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