Crossrail/Elizabeth Line. From construction to operation - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Confirmation elsewhere that Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services)/contactless will be available for these trains, along with, I understand, HEX.

[John R]

I'm intrigued to know how that will work, given the differential pricing for HEx. Though I can imagine anything that makes the cost of HEx less transparent would be attractive to the airport.

[Chris125]

These must be diverted surely? THey can't get any more through the core area, can they?

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) the core is only getting 24tph under current plans, if need be that can be increased - I think up to 30tph has been mentioned.

[paul7575]

I'm intrigued to know how that will work, given the differential pricing for HEx. Though I can imagine anything that makes the cost of HEx less transparent would be attractive to the airport.

Differential PAYG^▸ (Pay as you go) pricing works on Gatwick Express now.  It uses the dedicated platform barriers at the Victoria end of the route to determine the fare to charge.  So they could use the same platforms and barriers for both HEx and Crossrail at Heathrow, as long as HEx kept its dedicated platforms at Paddington.

[JayMac]

I suspect the Greater Western franchisee would be happy if platforms 6-9 are barriered at Paddington to facilitate Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) usage on HeX.

[ChrisB]

Or the differential is charged only on HEX 1st class, and they give it up in STD? It is a possibility

[Electric train]

Or the differential is charged only on HEX 1st class, and they give it up in STD? It is a possibility

Or HEX actually becomes all First Class, this is certainly the case with the direct rail service from Rome to the airport(o)  yet the train is bog standard one just non stop.  By HEX being all first class and their eventual through running to Reading they should make some money, HEX Padd - Heathrom 15 min Crossrail nearer 30 bussiness travellers will thak HEX

[IndustryInsider]

As well as the previously announced Terminal 5 service, TfL have now announced that there will be four trains per hour running through to Reading and six trains per hour to Maidenhead. 

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/tfl-to-enhance-frequency-on-the-elizabeth-line

An increase of two trains per hour in each case.  I presume that means GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will no longer be running a relief line service twice per hour as originally intended as there will not be any room for them now, surely?

[ChrisB]

How long ago is 'originally'? I thought GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) were only going to run semi-fast & fast services, mainly on the main lines once Crossrail (originally) was fully up & running? Once Crossrail was running through to Reading (when I base my 'originally' on), the Maidenheads & Readings were the main services.

[IndustryInsider]

Up until this announcement a 2tph relief line service was expected between Reading and Paddington operated by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) calling at Twyford, Maidenhead, Slough, Hayes (off-peak only) and Ealing Broadway.

http://74f85f59f39b887b696f-ab656259048fb93837ecc0ecbcf0c557.r23.cf3.rackcdn.com/assets/library/document/c/original/crossrail_service_pattern-reading_to_central_london_aug_2016.pdf

[ChrisB]

Thats the semi-fast services I was referring to....couldn't they still operate?

6tph plus a freight path...too many?

[IndustryInsider]

6tph plus a freight path...too many?

Personally, I think it is, especially east of Airport Junction where it will be a lot more than 6tph.  Perhaps NR^» (Network Rail - home page), Crossrail and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) still think it will work.  Will be interesting to find out.

[paul7575]

As well as the previously announced Terminal 5 service, TfL have now announced that there will be four trains per hour running through to Reading and six trains per hour to Maidenhead. 

Although in the peaks only.    Perhaps some GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services will continue to run through on the reliefs in the off-peak.

ISTM that there will no longer be any West Drayton peak extras, they will effectively become Reading peak extras.

As forecast in discussions after that March 2017 TfL^» (Transport for London - about) board paper I linked to at the time.

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

I confess to not having spotted the additional ones were peak services only - that makes all the more sense, so yes I would expect the off-peak GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services to still operate then.

[Adelante_CCT]

have now announced that there will be four trains per hour running through to Reading and six trains per hour to Maidenhead.....I presume that means GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will no longer be running a relief line service twice per hour as originally intended as there will not be any room for them now, surely?

Although in the peaks only.    Perhaps some GWR services will continue to run through on the reliefs in the off-peak.

I confess to not having spotted the additional ones were peak services only - that makes all the more sense, so yes I would expect the off-peak GWR services to still operate then.

From the blurb towards the bottom of the link:

TfL^» (Transport for London - about) and the Department for Transport, the joint sponsors of the Crossrail project, have been working closely with Network Rail to ensure the best use of the shared railway infrastructure in west London and beyond. Five Great Western Railway services will be replaced with Elizabeth line services. This will provide the same or greater, frequency and the same journey times for the majority of passengers, with the added benefit of being able to continue directly into central London on the Elizabeth line.