Crossrail to Heathrow?

More complications are arising in the Crossrail camp as various deadlines approach, writes Andrew Sharp.

Crossrail planned to run a service at 15min intervals between the present ground-level platforms at Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 4 from this May: from December 2019, they would start to use the new dedicated underground platforms.

However, the Crossrail trains – which have been running between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield for around six months – cannot cope with the advanced signalling system in the Heathrow tunnels.

So instead of a quarter-hourly service of new class 345 Crossrail trains, there will be a half-hourly service of rebranded class 360 Heathrow Connect trains. A class 345 train is likely to be brought in to shuttle between Paddington and Hayes, although given the existing frequency, this will just be a gesture.

However, it will be beneficial. Crossrail trains, modelled originally on Metropolitan Line trains, have hard metro-style seating. Heathrow Connect trains, by contrast, have relatively comfortable seats in groups of two and four.

On fares, £12 has been suggested, or the current Heathrow Connect £10.20. While both Hayes and the Piccadilly Line stations at Heathrow are in the London Transport zones system, Shenfield, the eastern terminus of the line is not – a precedent for a non-standard fare at the other end too.

www.crossrail.co.uk

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