Western Rail Access To Heathrow (WRATH) - merged topics

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

I think the pax numbers from the West country to Heathrow will be only part of the calculation. There will be opportunities for faster travel to Heathrow from Wales, Oxford, even the likes of Birmingham. Although I have flown from Heathrow on holiday a couple of times, it is seen primarily as the departure point for those carrying a briefcase rather than a bucket and spade, and the quality of traveller is likely to have some impact, as well as the quantity. It will also have some impact on the number of passengers travelling between Reading and Paddington, as anyone from west of there heading for LHR will have a choice other than bus or Paddington then back by HEX.

It is not only air passengers who will benefit. I have read that more people work in Heathrow than in the entire city of Newcastle. That may be apocryphal, but Heathrow has around 70,000 employees including franchises, not all of whom live in nearby Staines. When this scheme is operational, it will provide extra direct services from Woking and Bracknell, as well as Waterloo, Clapham Jct, Guildford, and a few other places. In short, it will link a major employment zone with several high-density residential areas, some of which are not easily accessed by public transport, as well as connecting the west to Heathrow. In terms of benefit cost ratio, it will score highly. The new infrastructure will be following existing very busy roads (mainly the M25) or be underground. No outstanding beauty issues have been identified. Some level crossings will be closed more than now however, and the consultation has addressed that point, if not resolved it.

This could be a situation where the skills of the demographist and the statistician prove to be crucial, and possibly more important than those of the civil engineer. There may also be development effects along the routes concerned, and my guess is that this development will be followed by universities, to inform future opinion.

I don't think the value of this project is influenced to any great degree by the Heathrow / Boris Island argument. My own thinking is that the Boris island idea is a goer, and that Heathrow should not have survived the 1950s, but that major infrastructure decisions are seldom driven by anything other than the potents for the  next election. We are therefore stuck with the imperfect Heathrow for many years. A  western rail link will ameliorate the problems that causes. Or solves.

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

Heathrow workers live over a wide area but the further away from Heathrow, the numbers fall. Here in Hanborough I know someone who works at Heathrow (reason: housing much more affordable). However he travels to and from work by private car and says that it is relatively quick as he works permanent nightshifts on aircraft maintenance leaving Hanborough for work around mid evening and returning home early morning when the heavy trafic flows are in the other direction.

[Electric train]

There would be uproar from the taxi drivers in the Maidenhead area when the western rail connection is made, they thrive on the fact the buses are pants almost 2 hours and the current rail journey is a pain with the over bridge interchange at Hayes where there is no lifts to help with luggage.

There does not need to be passenger numbers to justify it the creation of new journey opportunities is also a perfectly acceptable case for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)

[eightf48544]

It will also give extra capacity between Hayes and Langley a couple of Crossrail trains going via the Airport can be overtaken by Padd Reading Semis on the Relief line.

One point what will the fare be? Will there be a stupidly excessive  add on like Hayes to Heathrow on the Connect. Presuambly passnegers will be able to catch trains from Langley and westwards going via the airport at the same price as along the main line. Just a thought!
 

[ChrisB]

Doubt it - the infrastructure in place from the Airport to Airport Junction is owned by the airport operator, not NR^» (Network Rail - home page).

[eightf48544]

Doubt it - the infrastructure in place from the Airport to Airport Junction is owned by the airport operator, not NR^» (Network Rail - home page).

What a crazy world we live in!

[IndustryInsider]

Doubt it - the infrastructure in place from the Airport to Airport Junction is owned by the airport operator, not NR^» (Network Rail - home page).

Might that situation change should this through link get built though?

[ChrisB]

Why should it - I bet they're making good money....

[swrural]

I looked up a fare.  ^5.60 for 4 kms as the crow flies.  ^1.40 per mile, correct me if I am wrong.

[IndustryInsider]

Because the nature of the service will be completely different.  The present structure was determined when all that would operate is a designated Heathrow Express link operated by BAA.  As a through service will presumably be operating when the western link is operational, then BAA will not be operating those services (again presumably) and I can see the link becoming more of a proper National Rail route and then it would make sense for Network Rail to take over full responsibility for it - after all, they might not own it, but they do still maintain it.

Either that, or you have a high surcharge for travelling on a through service from, say Slough to Ealing Broadway that goes via the airport (can't see that happening), or you only pay the surcharge if your journey is actually to/from one of the airport stations.

Personally, I can see BAA being 'persuaded' to give up Heathrow Express operation and hand it over to the National Rail network when this link goes live.  There are already murmurings of significant changes to the HEx services as a result of Crossrail.  

[ChrisB]

When does the HEx contract expire with NR^» (Network Rail - home page)?

[paul7575]

HEx track access expires in 2023 I believe, from memory of a discussion somewhere last year.  About 10 more years anyway.
 
There are a number of different options for the mid '20s covering Heathrow in the London ands SE RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy), including for example a maximum of 10 tph from Crossrail subsuming both HEx and Connect.  Western Access is also considered, with as many as 8 through trains.  Too much to repeat here really...

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

HEx track access expires in 2023 I believe, from memory of a discussion somewhere last year.  About 10 more years anyway.

Perfect timing?

[ChrisB]

That's why I asked the Q....

[paul7575]

If the length of the original TAA was intended to give them enough time (25 years from '98?) to cover most of their capital costs of the airport branch and tunnels, perhaps it's all been part of an overall cunning plan anyway...

Paul