In message , at 08:16:12 on Sun, 18 Mar
2018, Someone Somewhere remarked:

TfL are also arranging with HAL as to how the existing Heathrow
staff travel concessions will be maintained. At present they are a
"goodwill" measure from GWR.

Whilst I appreciate many staff are low paid (although many aren't), I
don't quite understand why HAL gets or expects a goodwill measure from
GWR when they then insist on charging or minimum fares (which is what
this is) for access to their infrastructure...

The answer to that is fairly simple. Heathrow Connect exists almost
entirely as a way for staff to get to and from the airport. The
occasional tourist using it as a HEx-lite is almost a loophole.

The arrangement between Heathrow and GWR for the use of HEx
infrastructure will no doubt reflect the fact that GWR is in effect
waiving the airport premium for airport workers.

Everyone wins, because GWR get the bums on seats because the fares are
competitive with other means of workers getting to the airport, and the
airport gets to bask in the modal shift (which includes meeting targets
for pollution/congestion, and the cost of providing parking) for those
workers whose alternative to Heathrow Connect would be driving.
--
Roland Perry