wrote:

Pretty poor for a new, high-profile service. One hopes that the
equipment, layout and timetabling is robust enough for these to
just be teething problems. However it may be that infrastructure
works are needed sooner rather than later if this new service is
not to heavily impact on both Great Western and Heathrow Express
operations.

Heathrow Connect are still only running to Hayes tonight. In fact I've
just e-mailed them about the total lack of any explanation, forecast or
apology on their site. All they say is that "Heathrow Connect is
currently only operating between London and Hayes & Harlington", despite
claiming that "it's the best way to travel locally to and from Heathrow
Airport".

"If you have to rely on London Underground to get you to the airport
everyday, this service will revolutionise the way you travel." Some
revolution!

The National Rail site talks about signalling problems.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

Richard J. wrote:
"If you have to rely on London Underground to get you to the airport
everyday, this service will revolutionise the way you travel." Some
revolution!

I never understood the real point of services from paddington. Unless
you
live in or near the paddington area or routes leading into it then
you've still got to crawl around on the circle line to get there and
wait
for the service to leave. By the time you've done that you could
probably
be halfway to heathrow on the piccadilly line and have paid less than
half
the price. Surely if they want a really useful airport service they
should extend the 3rd rail system from south of the river to heathrow
too?

B2003

Boltar wrote:

Richard J. wrote:

"If you have to rely on London Underground to get you to the airport
everyday, this service will revolutionise the way you travel." Some
revolution!


I never understood the real point of services from paddington. Unless
you
live in or near the paddington area or routes leading into it then
you've still got to crawl around on the circle line to get there and
wait
for the service to leave. By the time you've done that you could
probably
be halfway to heathrow on the piccadilly line and have paid less than
half
the price.

Well, Heathrow Express is for business types in a hurry who probably get
a taxi to/from Paddington anyway; for others, even though it's so
expensive, it's quicker for a journey like Euston - Heathrow.

Heathrow Connect isn't designed for Paddington, it's designed to serve
the bits of west London that other rail services just can't reach.

Surely if they want a really useful airport service they
should extend the 3rd rail system from south of the river to heathrow
too?

They should do that anyway, yes. That's been mooted for ages though
(known as Airtrack).

--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London

In message
Dave Arquati wrote:

[snip]

Surely if they want a really useful airport service they
should extend the 3rd rail system from south of the river to heathrow
too?

They should do that anyway, yes. That's been mooted for ages though
(known as Airtrack).


They were talking about doing that when I lived near Feltham and I left there
in 1957, so don't hold your breath.

--
Graeme Wall
This address is not read, substitute trains for rail.
Transport Miscellany at http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail/index.html

Dave Arquati wrote to uk.transport.london on Tue, 21 Jun 2005:

Surely if they want a really useful airport service they
should extend the 3rd rail system from south of the river to heathrow
too?

They should do that anyway, yes. That's been mooted for ages though
(known as Airtrack).

Wish they would... but they've even taken off the dedicated T123 bus
from Feltham and replaced it with I-forget-what that goes just to the
Central Bus Terminal. Useful enough, but not as reliable as before.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 23 May 2005

"If you have to rely on London Underground to get you to the airport
everyday, this service will revolutionise the way you travel." Some
revolution!

I never understood the real point of services from paddington. Unless
you
live in or near the paddington area or routes leading into it then
you've still got to crawl around on the circle line to get there and
wait
for the service to leave.

Well, you could always use the Bakerloo...

By the time you've done that you could
probably
be halfway to heathrow on the piccadilly line and have paid less than
half the price.

HEx is not supposed to be a substitute for the Piccadilly line. It is
not competing with LU for traffic, hence the extortionate fares. It is
supposed to compete with taxis; HEx to Paddington then taxi onward to
destination in central London being both faster and cheaper than
taking a taxi for the entire journey.

Surely if they want a really useful airport service they
should extend the 3rd rail system from south of the river to heathrow
too?

You seem to be assuming that providing a really useful service is one
of the aims of the privatised rail industry. See also the threads on
the London-Brighton bike ride, etc.

Boltar wrote:
I never understood the real point of services from paddington. Unless you
live in or near the paddington area or routes leading into it then
you've still got to crawl around on the circle line to get there and wait
for the service to leave. By the time you've done that you could probably
be halfway to heathrow on the piccadilly line and have paid less than half
the price. Surely if they want a really useful airport service they
should extend the 3rd rail system from south of the river to heathrow
too?

If laden down with luggage (and possibly children), doing Jubilee-
Bakerloo-Paddington then Heathrow Express is well worth the extra
ten quid for speed and accessability over Jubilee-Picadilly. IMO.

#Paul

In article , c.uk writes
If laden down with luggage (and possibly children), doing Jubilee-
Bakerloo-Paddington then Heathrow Express is well worth the extra ten
quid for speed and accessability over Jubilee-Picadilly. IMO.

If laden down with luggage (and possibly children), the fewer changes
the better, surely.

--
Thoss

thoss wrote:
In article ,

If laden down with luggage (and possibly children), doing Jubilee-
Bakerloo-Paddington then Heathrow Express is well worth the extra
ten quid for speed and accessability over Jubilee-Picadilly. IMO.

If laden down with luggage (and possibly children), the fewer
changes the better, surely.

Changes which involve carrying heavy luggage up stairs may be worth
avoiding, even if it means 2 step-free changes instead. But from the
Jubilee Line, a change at Westminster to the District and at Barons
Court or Hammersmith to the Piccadilly (both step-free) would be better
than Jubilee-Piccadilly at Green Park.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

thoss wrote:
In article , c.uk writes
If laden down with luggage (and possibly children), doing Jubilee-
Bakerloo-Paddington then Heathrow Express is well worth the extra ten
quid for speed and accessability over Jubilee-Picadilly. IMO.

If laden down with luggage (and possibly children), the fewer changes
the better, surely.

Not really. Jubilee-Bakerloo is cross platform; and getting out
at Heathrow is much easier from HExpress than Picadilly. And since
Green Park lifts are usually a pain, I'd change at Westminster then
Hammersmith to get to the Picadilly in any case. Also, HExpress
carriages tend to be less crowded.

I agree, though, there's not much in it ... but then 15mins on HExpress
(plus some waiting time) is better than some uncertain 60+ on the Picadilly.

#Paul