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Heathrow Express rail services face disruption after drivers and other staff went on strike.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have walked out for 24 hours, from 12:15 GMT.

The dispute, involving up to 250 staff, follows the sacking of a driver and the suspension of a union representative.

Heathrow Express, which is running an amended service, said it was disappointed the strike was going ahead and apologised to passengers.

It said the suspended employee had returned to work and the driver was dismissed fairly.

The union has set up a picket line outside the entrance of Paddington station.

A second 24-hour stoppage is due to start from the same time on 11 March, while union members will not work any extra hours over the weekend of 3-4 March.

The RMT said the action is in support of sacked driver Zahid Majid and the suspension of Liaqat Ali.

Mr Majid was dismissed after a minor error, for which he took full responsibility, the union claims.

In the case of Mr Ali, the RMT said he was subjected to "unfounded, spurious and discriminatory allegations".

The union's general secretary Bob Crow said: "The unfair and disproportionate punishment taken by management in both these cases is a total miscarriage of justice."

A spokeswoman for Heathrow Express said the union was striking over an issue "which is no longer under dispute".

"The ballot centres around the suspension of one member of staff and the dismissal of another," she said.

"The suspended employee has already returned to work and the dismissal - which was conducted via a policy agreed with the union - has since been withdrawn from employment tribunal."

Heathrow Express dispute: Trains affected by strike

Rail services to Heathrow Airport have been hit by a 24-hour strike.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, including drivers, on the Heathrow Express service walked out at 12:15 GMT.

An amended timetable is being run with trains running every 30 minutes rather than the usual 15 minutes.

The dispute, which is thought to involve up to 250 staff, follows the sacking of a driver and the suspension of a union representative.

The service connects the airport with Paddington Station.

The latest strike follows a series of industrial action by union members.

On 26 February, members staged a similar 24-hour strike, while over the weekend of 3-4 March, union members worked no extra hours.

RMT said the action was in support of sacked driver Zahid Majid and the suspension of Liaqat Ali. Mr Majid was dismissed after an error, for which he took full responsibility, the union claimed.

In the case of Mr Ali, the RMT said he was subjected to "unfounded, spurious and discriminatory allegations" and was now facing charges over conduct and confidentiality while he was suspended.

Heathrow Express said the union was striking over an issue "which is no longer under dispute".

"The ballot centres around the suspension of one member of staff and the dismissal of another," a spokeswoman said. "The suspended employee has already returned to work and the dismissal - which was conducted via a policy agreed with the union - has since been withdrawn from employment tribunal."

New Heathrow Express uniform ^should be shunted into sidings^

Staff on the Heathrow Express are among the first Londoners many overseas visitors see after touching down.
 
However, critics say the service^s new uniform, to be introduced in July, may leave Olympics visitors questioning British style as they take the train to Paddington.

The outfits, which in business class come in shades of green, aim to convey a look that is ^professional, refined, confident and full of energy^. But they have been slammed for making staff look ^jaundiced^.

Part of a ^16 million re-branding of the Heathrow Express before  this summer^s Games, the uniforms include two-tone skirt suits for women and trouser suits for men - both with waistcoats - and calf-length coats with asymmetrical buttoning.

Made using non-iron fabrics, they will be suitable in temperature variations of as much as 20C, according to the award-winning design company No Uniform. Designer Nicholas Oakwell said: ^The operational requirements have been challenging but we are thrilled with the results.^

However, fashion PR expert Nick Ede, co-founder of EdenCancan agency, said: ^They^ve obviously got their influence from the Wizard of Oz. It looks like ^Welcome to the Emerald City^ rather than ^Welcome to the Olympic city^. They^re extremely unflattering and the colour makes staff look ill, like they^ve got jaundice.^

they will be suitable in temperature variations of as much as 20C

New look Heathrow Express

Heathrow Express has revealed a ^16million makeover that will usher in a new brand, new rolling stock and new staff uniforms ahead of this summer^s Olympic Games in the capital.

The majority of the investment has been spent on the development of new trains that will enter service from April 26th.

Signage and ticket offices at both ends ^ Heathrow Airport and Paddington station ^ will be re-branded, while new booking technology has also been introduced.

^Our re-launch is the culmination of three years of research, investment and team commitment,^ says Heathrow Express managing director, Keith Greenfield. ^As London takes centre stage in 2012 we are proud to be the front door to the city.^

The new rolling stock has been designed to feel more like the airline experience, with Tangerine ^ the company behind British Airways cabin projects ^ responsible for the makeover of Heathrow Express^ new first class coaches.

The BAA-owned company operates services every 15 minutes between 5am and 11.30pm, with a 15minute journey time between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington station. It carries around 16,000 passengers a day, around two-thirds of which are travelling on business.

Fares start from ^18 one-way when purchased online, or ^34 return. First class fares are ^26 and ^52.

Development of new trains that will enter service from April?

Huh?

Heathrow Express rail strikes called off

A union has called off strikes on the Heathrow Express after a dispute over disciplinary action taken against two employees was resolved.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union had walked out twice and had scheduled two more strikes for this weekend.

The industrial action had been in protest at the sacking of a driver and action against another worker.

The Heathrow Express rail link runs from the west London airport to Paddington station.

Heathrow Express hit by fresh strike action

Rail union RMT has confirmed a fourth wave of industrial action across Heathrow Express, in a long-running row over pay and working conditions.

The strikes will take place from midday on June 19 until midday on June 20, and again for 24 hours on June 22.

RMT claims Heathrow Express management ^sabotaged^ this week's (June 11) ACAS talks and has ^resorted to issuing threats to sack hundreds of staff^ if members don^t call off their strikes.

The union said the company is taking "an all-out assault on pay, jobs and safety^.

Heathrow Express has warned it cannot rule out job losses if the RMT presses ahead with further ^wrong-headed^ strike action.

The company issued the stark warning after fresh strike dates were issued by union group the RMT, which claims Heathrow Express^ management plans to cut 201 jobs, freeze staff pay, remove the Customer Service Representative Grade and create a new Grade in its place on ^inferior pay^.

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said it put forward a viable framework for resolving the dispute, which ^wasn^t even considered^ by Heathrow Express.

^The planned axing of jobs, and the associated freezing and hacking back of pay and working conditions, is a kick in the teeth for the staff who have made Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect the success story that they are today,^ said Cash.

^The staff have stood up and been counted and it is down to company to halt the cuts plans and start talking seriously about a safe and secure future for this vital London transport link.^

Heathrow Express^ managing director Keith Greenfield said: ^Job losses were the one thing our proposals avoided - but the RMT^s wrong-headed path of repeated strikes has added to our costs, forcing us to now consider redundancies.

^From the outset we have warned the RMT that strikes are not the answer as they are increasing costs when we are trying to reduce them. They have ignored this advice."

Greenfield added: ^The RMT leadership alone is responsible for putting its own members^ jobs at risk. We warned them. They ignored the warning. Now, entirely unnecessarily, their members^ futures are far less certain.^

Heathrow Express workers walked out for 24 hours on June 4 and for two 24-hour periods over the bank holiday weekend as part of the ongoing dispute.

Now as far as I was aware at the time he was neither licenced nor should he have solo dispatched as he could not see the full length of the train!

Most platforms at PAD have a curve on them towards the country end. Which is why when dispatching an HST set you are supposed to have 3 people dispatching, you can at a push get away with 2 (and TM acting as 3rd person).

Most platforms at PAD have a curve on them towards the country end. Which is why when dispatching an HST set you are supposed to have 3 people dispatching, you can at a push get away with 2 (and TM acting as 3rd person).

 When you have two HEx sets working out of 6/7 you cannot see the full length because of the curve. You can see the curve here  http://tunnellingjournal.com/files/2011/07/Paddington-Station-architects-view-of-completed-PIP-observed-from-Bishops-Bridge-Road.jpeg

Is that the same for inside curve platforms (odd numbers) and outside curve platforms (even numbers?)