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

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Here's the link to the London & South East RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) that Paul mentioned on the previous page of this thread:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?dir=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies\RUS%20Generation%202\London%20and%20South%20East&pageid=0&root=

It's a weighty document, but pages 104-111 detail the various options with regard to Paddington to Reading on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line).  One thing is clear though, Network Rail want Crossrail to go to Reading and for an announcement to be made soon!

[Tim]

let's resurrect Airtrack

Or maybe not Unless you can come up with a practical solution with the various level crossings on the line.

I think an alternative has been suggested which would join the two windsor stations and replace them with a new single station.  Then run take the heathrow trains on a short bit of new track to join the exisiting line from Windsor to Slough for connections to cross-rail

[paul7575]

I think an alternative has been suggested which would join the two windsor stations and replace them with a new single station.  Then run take the heathrow trains on a short bit of new track to join the exisiting line from Windsor to Slough for connections to cross-rail

Well it has definitely been suggested:  http://windsorlink.net/

...and I think it's been around for a couple of years, but I reckon that DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) and Network Rail will have completely ignored it because it doesn't provide what passengers actually want at an affordable cost.  It doesn't even rate a negative comment in the latest RUSs^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy), ie GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) and London and SE.

Paul

[Btline]

I would suspect the vast majority of the money spent on Crossrail is on the tunnelling (or perhaps just Canary Wharf station ), so I would imagine sending services to the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) slows would be relatively cheap. Just like extensions to Dartford (or preferably Ebbesfleet) and Reading.

Airtrack - I know there are the level crossings, but I'm not convinced enough time has been spent looking at it. Staines would be a good start. But a local service from Waterloo to Heathrow would take plenty of cars off the road.

[anthony215]

I would suspect the vast majority of the money spent on Crossrail is on the tunnelling (or perhaps just Canary Wharf station ), so I would imagine sending services to the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) slows would be relatively cheap. Just like extensions to Dartford (or preferably Ebbesfleet) and Reading.

Airtrack - I know there are the level crossings, but I'm not convinced enough time has been spent looking at it. Staines would be a good start. But a local service from Waterloo to Heathrow would take plenty of cars off the road.

One  problem with Airtrack, is that it is a very good idea but funding was  a issue and hopefully perhaps it could be found to  bring back the scheme in a few years.

The main problem is in Richmond with the stupid council & Nimby's complaining about the level crossing's

Shame really as i would have liked to see Airtrack, I wonder if they would go ahead and build a western link into Heathrow Airport, perhaps a hourly Oxford - Reading - Heathrow Airport service? it would be a good use for those class 360's which are owned by BAA if they do get replaced by the crossrail service.

[JayMac]

The main problem is in Richmond with the stupid council & Nimby's complaining about the level crossing's

Sorry, but that's grossly unfair. Traffic congestion around level crossings on the proposed Airtrack route is already very bad. Airtrack would've made that much worse, particularly in Egham where it was predicted that on two of the town's level crossings the barriers would be down for 34 minutes in each hour.

There are already numerous public transport options for getting to Heathrow with CrossRail to come. Airtrack appeared to be a sop to affluent residents living south-west of London whose public transport options to Heathrow are the coaches from Reading or Woking or travelling via London. I don't have much sympathy for them. They already have an extensive commuter network to give them access to the existing Heathrow links. 

[anthony215]

Ok perhaps i am being a bit unfair, and yes i do have some agreement with you consiering how good a public transport system they have around that area already.

[Ollie]

The main problem is in Richmond with the stupid council & Nimby's complaining about the level crossing's

particularly in Egham where it was predicted that on two of the town's level crossings the barriers would be down for 34 minutes in each hour.

Similar figure was mentioned for the main level crossing in Wokingham (by the station)

The other 2 in  Wokingham wouldn't be down as often, but still a fair bit. Certainly not practical in the current state of the crossings. Which is why I mentioned if a solution was found it would be a good idea.

So I wouldn't say it's being Nimby's at all

[anthony215]

Jst read part of the RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) which says that Network Rail want to run 10 crossrail trains per hour to Heathrow and 6 to Reading thus eliminating the need for some  or most of them to terminate at Paddington and to provide 4 extra fast trains between Paddington & Reading using the current Heathrow express paths.

A western link into Heathrow airport is also suggested (Perhaps if such a link is built and the heathrow express services are withdrawn after crossrail comes into affect perhaps it could make use of the class 332's)

Also a proposal to run 12 carriage trains to Newbury & Oxford.

I havent read the full  RUS yet but will be having a further browse through it tonight & tommorow. Makes for a interesting read.

[standclearplease]

A direct rail service between Reading and Heathrow would be very welcome indeed.

[anthony215]

And i think a lot of people would use it. as for the question if there would be any paths for it.

I know that they propose running 6TPH between Paddington & Maidenhead/reading on the relief lines in addition to 10TPH to Heathrow Airport, so i suppose if the great western mainline i re-signalled then you could just about run a service although probably on a service every 30 minutes  or so on the  relief lines in between the crossrail services

 Maybe by extending some of the local  stopping services from Oxford which maybe 1 day might be extended to Milton Keynes etc.


I do agree with the idea of scrapping the Heathrow express services and using the paths to provide additional fast services between London Paddington & Reading.

I know there maybe a few people who would not be happy about the loss of heathrow express but wouldnt it be better to have very frequent services which run direct to central london & the city?

[Btline]

After crossrail, the hex is redundant. However they'll want to keep it as it would still make money as people will fall for the con. I hope they see sense and axe it during the peaks... You could then run 4 IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) per hour just from discot and reading. Then axe most didcot and reading stops on other trains!

Just like gatwick. Thameslink is quicker anyway now, and serves more of the city. But tourists and businessmen see the signs and get the credit card out. Often then to get the tube to kings cross or monument!

[eightf48544]

If T5 ever became a through station it seems to me a possibility would be run a Alternate Abbey Wood. Shenfield all stations to Padd Ealing Broadway Hayes, T5 Slough Maidenhead Twyford Reading service 4 an hour or do do 2 on the ML lines Reading T5 Padd terminate.

[anthony215]

This has just been posted on UK^▸ (United Kingdom) railforums and i cant find  it here so i have posted a link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/29/crossrail-train-manufacturing-contract

[grahame]

Thanks for the link, Anthony215.

Why is it that artists impressions of new stations - shown to illustrate this article - show just a handful of people which if it were to be the typical scene would make the whole thing a white elephant?   (If people answer me on this, I may split it into a separate thread). Compare and contrast to the current number of passengers around - http://www.wellho.net/pix/bhhomea.jpg and http://www.wellho.net/pix/bhhome0.jpg