Western Rail Access To Heathrow (WRATH) - merged topics

[whole diary]

[Not from Brighton]

Does anyone know how much the grade separation west of Reading is costing? Surely it would have be be cheaper than that as the Reading project is much more complicated.

[Surrey 455]

If the old West Drayton to Staines line was re-engineered to allow a western link, would trains run any further than T5 - Reading on the Great Western line? Would there be a demand for trains to travel further? If so then what about trains from other parts of the country e.g. Crosscountry?

[eightf48544]

As for going further than Reading depends on where the wires go plus the stock to be used. Crossrail stock and would presumably be able to use LHR T5 as through station and run to hopefully Reading not Maidenhead.

Does anyone know if the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) will be compatible with LHR T5.

Not sure if you'd want to go very far on an old 319 which are likely to run the non Crossrail electrified local services on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) even if they are compatible with LHR  T5.

Until the wires go North of Oxford then XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) would be excluded being diesel. Unless the dreaded bi mode was used.

As an aside HEX and Connect will find electrifying the Reading traingle will be very useful as they will be able to turn their units to even wheel wear on the tight curve after Airport Junction.
 

[Electric train]

319's will be more than compatible as they are The Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989 section 12 compliant, also they have cab end doors for evacuation in the Widen Lines, Clarkenwell and Snow Hill tunnels, they we also used as test train in the Channel Tunnel when the signaling and electrification was commissioned.

The IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) may not be compatible as they unlikely to be built to The Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989 Section 12 and my not have guage clearance

[rogerpatenall]

"due to insurmountable problems surrounding the level crossings in the Hounslow area"
insurmountable problems have a habit of being surmounted at a later date when the will is there. Current example is the quadrupling of the Charing Cross lines at Borough Market after at least 50 years of procrastination.

[eightf48544]

Christian Wolmar in the latest Rail magazine devotes his article to the scrapping of Airtrack and the level crossing problem. It seems Philip Hammond doesn't like level crossings.

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

Does any person like level crossings? We are fortunate in GW^▸ (Great Western) territory that Mr Brunel foresaw the problems of level crossings and there tend to be fewer than in many other parts of the country.

[Wilf19]

Having been messed about by the RailAir bus again tonight I find myself wondering if a westbound rail connection from Heathrow to Reading will ever happen. Now someone will tell me it's happening as part Crossrail but the maps I can find don't suggest that.

For my sins I get to use Heathrow fairly frequently and alternate between using the RailAir bus from Reading and going up to Paddington and using the Heathrow Express. I usually start using the bus again when I feel a bit guilty about the extra expense of going via Paddington. Using the bus usually lasts until something goes wrong and the connections mess up, and then I go back to  using the Heathrow train. In 12 years of taking the train to Heathrow the train has only let me down twice, I've lost count of the number of times the RailAir bus has meant being late or having to spend and unscheduled night in a Heathrow hotel.

My point is (at last!) surely the Thames Valley route catchment must have a good number of people who would make use of a train between Reading and Heathrow? Or is it all down to the usual vested interests?

Ironically tonight's mess up isn't so bad for me,  in the end as the 18:33 from Reading to Taunton is very late so I made my train.

cheers

Sorry if this has all been done before but I couldn't locate a thread on it.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Not that it would have much difference to your journey tonight

[eightf48544]

Piece in Slough Midweek Observer about a do in Reading with the MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) promoitng the link.

Under Heathrow Link vital for Economy. Alegedly Justine Greening has pledge her support. Network rail are doing a study.

Also piece in December Modern railways reviewing all proposals for Westlinks to Heathrow including teh Windsor Link scheme.

All on Page 5 of same issue of Observer peice on 48 new carriges for FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

Also Maidenhead advertiser.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Reading Chronicle:

Eager wait for airport rail link study

Transport secretary Justine Greening has pledged her backing for an emerging multi million pound railway project directly linking Reading to Heathrow Airport.

Ms Greening revealed she is "awaiting with interest" the outcome of a proposed western rail link to the London airport which she anticipates will boost the region's transport network and economic fortunes.

Network Rail is just weeks away from unveiling results of a feasibility study for the ^180-^500m scheme which will slash journey times from Reading to the airport to just 28 minutes and to eight minutes from Slough.

Speaking last Thursday at a Westminster reception organised by Reading East MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Rob Wilson, when the Midweek and Chronicle were the only media from the Reading area represented, Ms Greening told rail chiefs and Thames Valley-based businesses: "This is one of those projects where you instinctively see its rationale and benefits. You only have to go past Reading on the M4 to see how much business is there, but in terms of the railway prospects it is so near yet so far.

"This will not just benefit the railways it will benefit the rest of the country and its economy."

Network Rail's ^119,000 study explores several options with the most likely route featuring a new 6km (3.72 mile) railway line and tunnel linking platforms at Heathrow Terminal Five with the Great Western Mainline east of Langley Station.

Currently companies in this area spend up to ^10m annually on taxi fares to Heathrow because train travellers face either face a lengthy detour via London or catching Rail Air buses from Reading Station which take 40 minutes to complete the road journey.

Mr Wilson said the proposals could bring "enormous" economic benefits to Reading and added: "Today demonstrates the tremendous spirit for this project across the political divide and from business and industry in the area. It should give us great heart and it's a project we can go forward with."

First Great Western sponsored the reception, and company projects and planning director Matthew Golton said the scheme could help take the pressure off crowded trains travelling into London, adding: "It will be great for the communities we serve and is vital for the economy."

[DavidH]

There's another alternative.  Reading - Paddington stopper to Hayes & Harlingdon and then the Heathrow Connect.  I did this recently from Twyford to Terminal 3 and it worked very well. Much cheaper too, about ^11 in middle of the day.

[Wilf19]

I hadn't thought of that route, it could be worth investigating. Although I usually use Terminal 5 and I don't think the connect service goes through to T5 so that would mean a change at Heathrow Central.

[Electric train]

There's another alternative.  Reading - Paddington stopper to Hayes & Harlingdon and then the Heathrow Connect.  I did this recently from Twyford to Terminal 3 and it worked very well. Much cheaper too, about ^11 in middle of the day.

This service from the West is not very well advertised by FGW^▸ (First Great Western), certainly from Maidenhead / Twyford it is a great way to get the Heathrow, the only pain in the ! if you have luggage is there are not lifts to help with the necessary UP to DN platform change and vice versa going home

[eightf48544]

The only problem with Heathrow connect from Hayes is the exorbitant fare!

Do you get a senior discount on it?

Another way is train to Slough and one of the many 7X to Central bus station  or Terminal 5 buses from across the way at the new very pleasant to wait in bus station.

I'm flying from 4 next year what's best way from Taplow thinking 75 bus  to Central on pass and free shuttle train. Cost ^0