700007
Established Member
Just as Jonathan H said - sorry if this confused you!What does PVR mean here?
I noticed that a lot of TfL Rail staff are around this route, and I asked a few staff about why this was. The general response I got from a lot of staff was apparently TfL Rail actually 'took over' this line some time ago (no specific date available, sorry), they've just not enforced the branding yet. So the line is nearly always fully staffed with MTR drivers based at Ilford, who usually, on a rota comes across to Old Oak Common for a few days and then goes back. It's to allow familiarisation and in-service route training amongst staff members who will be working on the new Crossrail service.I dont think the 360s are going to crossrail the staff are not even being tuped (Some gwr staff are though!)
One of many reasons it isn't branded as TfL Rail right now is due to lack of resources available if they were to take over the line now: essentially this being that there isn't enough 345s to take over the service - if it's being put on the tube map and gains a lot more attention than it already does now, passengers won't be happy with a 5-car service every 30/60 minutes as you can probably imagine...
However, TfL are already helping out with works on the line and at stations to ensure a smoother transition from Heathrow Connect to TfL Rail on the Sunday 20th May 2018. New staff are already being recruited to be based out of Old Oak Common depot, including drivers and engineers, and in addition customer service assistants at every station too from first train to last.
First is still obviously involved with the Heathrow Connect service as is BAA, although they're more in charge of operations and making sure the day to day running of the trains goes well. A First MTR collaboration....wonder where we've seen that? (!)
This is what I've been told by numerous people - if anyone would like to verify, please do!