21.05.18
TfL takes over Heathrow Connect services in Elizabeth line milestone
Transport for London (TfL) has taken over the Heathrow Connect services between Paddington and Heathrow terminals 2/3 and 4.
The service was taken over yesterday in a move which marks a major milestone in the creation of the Elizabeth line.
Today, the half hourly Great Western Railway (GWR) services from Paddington to Hayes & Harlington have also been taken over by TfL.
These services will be operated as TfL Rail, which will become Elizabeth line services from December this year when the line opens through central London.
Jointly sponsored by TfL and the Department for Transport (DfT), the new railway will maintain the current service of two trains per hour between Paddington and Heathrow using the existing trains, alongside two trains an hour between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington using new Elizabeth line trains, which replace part of the Great Western inner suburban route.
Although TfL zones to not apply to Heathrow pay as you go fares, for the first time, customers will be able to use pay as you go with Oyster and contactless across the route all the way from Paddington to Heathrow, although Heathrow will be designated as Zone 6 for the purposes of daily and weekly fare capping.
Val Shawcross, deputy mayor for transport, said: “The opening of the Elizabeth line this year will transform travel across London, and TfL taking over services to Heathrow is a major milestone in the project.”
Operations director for TfL, Howard Smith, added: “Taking over the services to Heathrow is another step towards opening London's new railway.
“Customers will see staff at every station and will be able to use Oyster and contactless payments all the way to the airport.”
Rail minister Jo Johnson said that the move will transform rail travel for over 200 million passengers across the south east each year.
“When fully open in 2019 the Elizabeth line will provide a faster connection to Heathrow, as well as giving people new interchanges to Gatwick and Luton airports via Thameslink services at Farringdon and helping drive forward economic growth and business opportunities,” he added.
Top image: Honglouwawa
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