Heathrow Connect
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| Franchise(s): | Not subject to franchising service began 12 June 2005 |
| Main route(s): | London Paddington - Heathrow Airport |
| Other route(s): | None |
| Fleet size: | 5 Class 360 sets |
| Stations: | 7 (none operated) |
| Parent company: | BAA plc/First Great Western |
| Web site: | www.heathrowconnect.com |
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Heathrow Connect is a train service in London, connecting Heathrow Airport with Paddington station. It is a joint venture between First Great Western and BAA. The service follows the same route as the faster Heathrow Express service but serves intermediate stations on its route, thus connecting several locations in west London with each other, the airport, and central London. It normally leaves from Platform 12 at Paddington.
The service, which was launched on 12 June 2005, makes use of new four-carriage Class 360/2 electric multiple-unit trains built by Siemens in Germany. A fifth set has been delivered, it is a five-carriage train and has recently entered service, the remaining sets are to have the fifth carriage fitted. The new carriages have arrived from Germany and can be seen at Old Oak Common Depot. Once Terminal 5 opens Heathrow Express trains will be diverted to Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 and will no longer call at Terminal 4. Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 will become the new terminus for Heathrow Connect trains.
[edit] Fares
Fares between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington are the same as for First Great Western services, but the single fare between Hayes and Heathrow is £4.90. Travelcards are not valid on the service between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow, but can be used throughout the rest of the line.
The service is designed principally for the use of BAA staff and locals from West London for travel to Heathrow, and with a staff ID card, discounted fares are available for the journey between Hayes and Heathow. It is not intended to be used as a cheaper (but slower) alternative to the Heathrow Express service from Paddington to Heathrow: every Connect service is overtaken by an Express service en route, and at Paddington trains are advertised on Departures boards as "Heathrow Airport via Hayes and Harlington".
[edit] Operation
The service uses the slow lines of the Great Western Main Line between Airport Junction and Paddington, replacing some stopping services operated by the former First Great Western Link. To access the airport spur, trains in both directions use the flyover from between the fast and slow lines, to avoid crossing the fast lines. At Heathrow, the trains reverse in the headshunt beyond the station at Terminals 1, 2, 3. When the service started, there was a problem with the signalling in the headshunt, and trains entering the headshunt were unable to leave it. The service was initially curtailed at Hayes and Harlington as a result, except for a few late-night and early-morning services.
The service runs along the Great Western Main Line from Paddington to airport junction (Network Rail owned infastructure). The line from airport junction to the airport terminals is owned by BAA. The line is electrified at 25 kV AC overhead and uses Automatic Train Protection.
| Domestic: | Arriva Trains Wales - c2c - Central Trains1 - Chiltern Railways - First Capital Connect First Great Western - First ScotRail - Grand Central2 - GNER - Heathrow Connect Hull Trains - Island Line3 - Merseyrail - Midland Mainline1 - Northern Rail Northern Ireland Railways4 - 'one' - Silverlink1 - Southeastern - Southern South West Trains - TransPennine Express - Virgin Trains (VWC - VXC1) |
|---|---|
| International: | Enterprise4 - Eurostar |
| Airport Link: | Gatwick Express - Heathrow Express - Stansted Express5 |
| Sleeper: | Caledonian Sleeper6 - Night Riviera7 |
| 1 Ends November 2007 - 2 Starts 20 May 2007 - 3 Operated by South West Trains 4 Operated on the Irish railway network - 5 Operated by 'one' - 6 Operated by First ScotRail 7 Operated by First Great Western |
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| Future passenger train operators and franchises in Great Britain | |
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| New Franchises: | Cross Country1 - East Midlands1 - InterCity East Coast - London Overground1 West Midlands1 |
| Proposed open-access operators: |
Glasgow Trains2 - Grand Union2 - Humber & City2 - Wrexham & Shropshire3 |
| 1 Starts November 2007 - 2 Proposed - 3 Awaiting Approval | |
[edit] External links
- Heathrow Connect official website
- Heathrow...at a price - Guardian article regarding the expensive fares on the service
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