With the Elizabeth Line/Crossrail starting to arrive at Heathrow Airport in the near future (May), Heathrow Express is relaunching how it conducts business.
Currently, it operates its own trains, staffing and such. That’s going to change soon, with Great Western Railway (who are owned by FirstGroup) to operate the Heathrow Express service from August 2018.
Heathrow Express Class 322 Train at Heathrow Terminal 5 – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
The service will be run as a management contract with Great Western Railway, with the Heathrow Express service to run until at least 2028. Station maintenance will be managed by Heathrow Airport (as well as access to Airport Junction and the airport), as well owning the Heathrow Express service.
For the new service, there will be an equipment swap. The current Class 332 trains which have been in service since the days of Heathrow FastTrack and Heathrow Express (Since June 1998) will be replaced with Class 387 Electrostar trains from the Great Western Railway fleet. 12 trains sets will be allocated to this operation
Great Western Railway Class 387 Electrostar at London Paddington – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
Editors side note – these are also the same type of trains used on the Gatwick Express.
Until these trains are refitted, the existing trains will be used.
These trains will be modified to carry first class accommodation, high-speed internet and additional luggage racks.
Inside the current Great Western Railway Class 387 – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
With ticket barriers being built at Heathrow and Paddington too, the service will fall into the TfL Oyster scheme (although will attract the Heathrow Express fares rather than the TfL Oyster fares). The barriers will also be handling the Elizabeth Line/Crossrail services when they start.
December 2019 is going to be interesting, with a lot of options between London and Heathrow, with:
- 12 Piccadilly Line trains per hour – 6 trains serving Terminals 2, 3 and 4 and 6 trains serving Terminals 2, 3 and 5
- 6 Elizabeth Line/Crossrail trains per hour – 4 trains serving Terminals 2, 3 and 4 and 2 trains serving Terminals 2, 3 and 5
- 4 Heathrow Express trains per hour – all trains serving Terminals 2, 3 and 5
There are some other interesting notes from this change:
- A total of 22 trains per hour between Heathrow and London from December 2019
- TfL and Heathrow Airport are trying to increase the frequency of Elizabeth Line/Crossrail services to 8 trains an hour
- The planned new Heathrow Express depot which was due to be built at Langley will no longer be needed (allowing Heathrow Express to leave Old Oak Common to allow HS2 to be built
- Progress to develop access to Heathrow from the West of England (from the Great Western Main Line) and South (from Waterloo and the South West of England).
- This will also displace the existing trains (14 Class 322 trains, 5 Class 360/2) which will need new home.
In quotes Heathrow Chief Executive John Holland-Kaye states:
“This agreement secures convenient and reliable public transport journeys to Heathrow in this decade and beyond. We have ambitious plans to transform rail journeys into the airport, and our passengers will reap the benefits of having Heathrow at the heart of an integrated, sustainable transport network.”
FirstGroup Chief Executive Tim O’Toole said:
“Today’s agreement demonstrates the transport industry working in partnership for the benefit of passengers, allowing fast and convenient connections to continue on this crucial airport link. We are an experienced rail operator with a strong track record in delivering customer improvements, and through this management contract we look forward to building on this operational expertise, as we work with Heathrow to bring in a dedicated fleet of high-specification trains that will help keep people moving and communities prospering in the future.”
It’s an interesting step as the Elizabeth Line and Crossrail edge ever closer to Heathrow Airport. Whilst the new line will provide competition in terms of frequency and access, you have to question the need for an express service in the long term future… especially when it serves the western end of London.
But for now – Express services between Heathrow and London will continue.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, with in-depth coverage, unique research as well as the humour and madness as I only know how to deliver.
It’s fast coming up to Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 – and Economy Class and Beyond will be there covering the latest news and announcements – as well as some deep dives into some of the innovations coming forward in passenger experience. Why not connect with me there?
Follow me on Twitter at @EconomyBeyond for the latest updates! You can also follow me on Instagram too!
Also remember that as well as being part of BoardingArea, we’re also part of BoardingArea.eu, delivering frequent flyer news, miles and points to European reader
