gwr4090 wrote:
In article ,
Steve Fitzgerald ] wrote:

In message , Martin
Whelton writes

Do we know when construction work is due to start on the Piccadilly
extension to Terminal 5 as I understand that tunneling work was due to
be finished by next year. I also understand that Terminal 4 would be
temporaily closed during the construction period.


Tunnelling is well under way and I believe the station box is all but
finished.


Plans are advanced for the closure of the T4 loop to allow the T5
extension to be connected. I think the latest plan is around December.
I'll try and confirm today at work, but I think we're looking at about a
two year closure.


The latest edition of Rail implies that the the first Picadilly line
tunnel between T123 and T5 is already complete and the second tunnel is
about to start. Both Picadilly line and HEX will have twin track
connections to T5 with two platforms at T5 for each service and an option
of two further platforms for HEX. There is also an implication (it is not
entirely clear in the article) that HEX trains will serve T123 and T5
only. The plan to split HEX trains at T123 into T4 and T5 portions seems
to have been abandoned. Also the new Paddington-Heathrow stopping service
"Heathrow Connect" will turn round at T123 when it starts next year (ie it
will not serve T4). It will eventually be extended to T5. So it looks like
T4 will not be seeing many trains !

David

I was always under the impression that the Piccadilly station would have
*three* platforms, like Cockfosters and Uxbridge, to improve
termination capacity. I also heard that full overruns would be provided
to further improve turnaround capacity. Is this still the case?

Furthermore, what are some honest dates for the commencement of
Piccadilly services to T5?

Brad