TfL Rail

Last updated

TfL Rail
TFL Rail roundel.svg
Unit 345007 at Shenfield 7th July 2017 06.jpg
A Class 345 at Shenfield
Overview
Owner Transport for London
Locale
Transit type Commuter rail / rapid transit [1]
Number of lines2
Line number
  • Shenfield – Liverpool Street
  • Paddington – Heathrow Terminal 4 / Reading
Number of stations32 (22 managed)
Website tfl.gov.uk/modes/tfl-rail/ OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Operation
Began operation31 May 2015;8 years ago (2015-05-31)
Ended operation23 May 2022;20 months ago (2022-05-23) (rebranded as Elizabeth line)
Operator(s) MTR Corporation
Reporting marks XR
Technical
System length36  miles 54  chains (59.0 km)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification Overhead line,  25 kV 50 Hz AC

TfL Rail was the concession which operated commuter services on two separate railway lines in London, England and its environs whilst the Crossrail construction project linking these lines was underway. It ran from 2015 until May 2022, upon the opening of the Crossrail central section, when TfL Rail was rebranded as Elizabeth line and the name was discontinued. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

TfL Rail was introduced on 31 May 2015 when it took control from Abellio Greater Anglia of the commuter "metro" service between London Liverpool Street in central London and Shenfield in Essex. The branch comprised the first 14 stations on the Great Eastern Main Line, with interchange at Shenfield for medium- and long-distance services beyond to East Anglia. TfL Rail had also taken over operation of some services from Paddington to Heathrow Airport and Reading. Services were operated by MTR Corporation under contract to Transport for London (TfL). Between May 2016 and May 2017, TfL Rail carried over 47 million passengers on the Shenfield branch.

History

In June 2013, TfL announced that Arriva, MTR Corporation, Keolis / Go-Ahead Group and National Express had been shortlisted to bid for the concession to operate Crossrail, which was under construction. [5] [6]

In July 2014, TfL awarded the contract to Hong Kong's MTR, for a duration of eight years with an option to extend by an additional two years. [7] [8]

MTR Corporation (Crossrail) was created as a new train operating company and took control of the "metro" service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield from the previous operator, Abellio Greater Anglia, on 31 May 2015. [9] The existing Class 315 trains were re-painted in TfL Rail livery, and appropriate branding, advertising and message boards were added at the 14 stations along the line. Every station is staffed, from the first train to the last of the day. In June 2017, Class 345 trains began running between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield. [10]

In May 2018, TfL Rail took over operation of the Heathrow Connect service between London Paddington and Heathrow, as well as some GWR services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington. [11] In December 2019, TfL Rail took over operation of the Great Western Railway stopping services between London Paddington and Reading. In November 2019, Class 345 trains began running between London Paddington and Reading, as a soft launch of the service. [12] [13] In July 2020, Class 345 trains began running between London Paddington and Heathrow. [14]

The two branches became part of the Elizabeth line when the central section opened on 24 May 2022, with the current branches connecting up with the core later. [15]

Route

The eastern branch of TfL Rail ran over the existing 20  miles 16  chains (32.5 km) of track on the Great Eastern Main Line between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield. The western branches operated over part of the Great Western Main Line and the Heathrow tunnel between London Paddington and Heathrow for 16  miles 38  chains (26.5 km), and entirely over the Great Western Main Line between London Paddington and Reading for 36 miles (58 km).

Stations

Stations served by TfL Rail [16]
StationImageDatesLocation
OpenedManaged fromServed from Zone Local authority
Reading National Rail logo.svg Reading-3893618-by-Bill-Nicholls.jpg 30 March 1840Managed by Network Rail 15 December 2019N/A [lower-alpha 1] Reading
Twyford National Rail logo.svg Twyford - GWR 165121 and 387153.JPG 1 July 1839Managed by Great Western Railway Wokingham
Maidenhead National Rail logo.svg 2012 at Maidenhead station - forecourt.jpg 1 November 1871 Windsor and Maidenhead
Taplow 2016 at Taplow station - from the south.JPG 1 September 1872May 2018 Buckinghamshire
Burnham Burnham station.JPG 1 July 1899 Slough
Slough National Rail logo.svg Slough station building.JPG 8 September 1884Managed by Great Western Railway
Langley Langley Railway Station.jpg 1845May 2018
Iver Iver Railway Station.jpg 1 December 1924 Buckinghamshire
West Drayton West Drayton stn main entrance.JPG 4 June 1838 6 Hillingdon
Heathrow Terminal 5 [lower-alpha 2] Heathrow Express icon RDT.svg Underground no-text.svg Heathrow T5 station AB.JPG 27 March 2008Managed by Heathrow Express Diversions only [lower-alpha 2]
Heathrow Terminal 4 Underground no-text.svg Heathrow Terminal 4 stn platform 2 look to London.JPG 23 June 1998May 2018
Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 Heathrow Express icon RDT.svg Underground no-text.svg Heathrow Central platform.JPG
Hayes & Harlington National Rail logo.svg 345012 at Hayes & Harlington.jpg 1864 or 1868May 2018 5
Southall HeathrowConnect 360205 Southall 20090513.JPG 1 May 1839 4 Ealing
Hanwell Hanwell station fast tracks look east.JPG 1 December 1838
West Ealing National Rail logo.svg West Ealing railway station 3.jpg 4 June 1838 3
Ealing Broadway National Rail logo.svg Underground no-text.svg Ealing Broadway station (1).jpg 1 December 1838
Acton Main Line Acton Main Line - Platform 4 (2019-01-21).jpg 1 February 1868
London Paddington National Rail logo.svg Heathrow Express icon RDT.svg Underground no-text.svg Paddington Station rush hour.jpg 4 June 1838Managed by Network Rail 1 City of Westminster
Sections disconnected
London Liverpool Street National Rail logo.svg Underground no-text.svg Overground roundel (no text).svg Liverpool Street - 20180308 152347 (40650187682).jpg 2 October 1874Managed by Network Rail31 May 2015 1 City of London
Stratford National Rail logo.svg Underground no-text.svg Overground roundel (no text).svg DLR no-text roundel.svg Stratford station (7028902411).jpg 20 June 1839Managed by TfL 2/3 Newham
Maryland Maryland Station .jpg 6 January 187331 May 2015 3
Forest Gate Forest Gate railway station - geograph.org.uk - 367765.jpg 1840
Manor Park Manor Park stn building.JPG 6 January 1873 3/4
Ilford Ilford station Ilford Hill entrance 2021 04.jpg 20 June 1839 4 Redbridge
Seven Kings Seven Kings stn building.JPG 1 March 1899
Goodmayes Goodmayes station building.JPG 8 February 1901
Chadwell Heath Chadwell Heath stn building.JPG 11 January 1864 5
Romford National Rail logo.svg Overground roundel (no text).svg Romford railway station MMB 10 315802.jpg 20 June 1839 6 Havering
Gidea Park Gidea Park Railway Station.jpg 1 December 1910
Harold Wood Harold Wood station geograph-3613485-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg 1 December 1868
Brentwood Brentwood Station - geograph.org.uk - 957508.jpg 1 July 1840 9 Brentwood
Shenfield National Rail logo.svg Shenfield Station.jpg 29 March 1843Managed by Greater Anglia C
  1. ↑ Stations between Iver and Reading only accept contactless Pay-as-you-go and are therefore not in the Oyster zones
  2. 1 2 Heathrow Terminal 5 was not officially served by TfL Rail, but services were diverted to this station when Heathrow Terminal 4 was closed during COVID-19

Former services

Shenfield branch

A Class 315 and Class 345 at London Liverpool Street 315858 and 345012 at London Liverpool Street.jpg
A Class 315 and Class 345 at London Liverpool Street

TfL Rail took over operations from Abellio Greater Anglia on 31 May 2015. [17] TfL Rail subsequently introduced a fleet of new Class 345 trains. [18] [19] On 22 June 2017, Class 345 trains entered passenger service on the Shenfield branch. [20]

The Class 315 trains continued to be maintained at the existing Ilford depot, but the Class 345 trains are maintained at Old Oak Common and Ilford depots.

Heathrow branch

TfL Rail inherited five Class 360 units from Heathrow Connect when it took over operations on 20 May 2018. These trains were used to operate the existing half-hourly (2tph) service to Heathrow. [21] On 30 July 2020, Class 345 trains entered passenger service on the Heathrow branch. [14] The last Class 360 trains were withdrawn in September 2020. [22]

Reading branch

On 26 September 2019, TfL Rail announced that it would take over the Paddington to Reading stopping services on 15 December 2019, [23] using Class 345 trains in place of the Class 387 and Class 165 trains used by Great Western Railway. Before that, on 25 November 2019 six GWR services a day started to operate using Class 345 trains, operated by TfL, to get drivers ready and stock in place for the main 15 December switch over. [24]

Route tables

Prior to the opening of the Elizabeth line on 24 May 2022, the timetabled weekday off-peak service pattern consisted of: [25]

Shenfield branch
RoutetphCalling atStock
London Liverpool Street to Shenfield 8 345 315
Reading and Heathrow branches
RoutetphCalling atStock
London Paddington to Reading 2 [lower-alpha 1] 345
London Paddington to Hayes & Harlington 2
London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 4 [lower-alpha 2] 2
  1. ↑ During peak times, service frequency increased up to 4 trains per hour
  2. ↑ During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heathrow Terminal 4 station was closed, services diverted to Heathrow Terminal 5

Rolling stock

Fleet carried over to the Elizabeth line

 ClassImageType Top speed Carriages Number Routes operated Built Years in operation
 mph  km/h 
Class 315 Class 315 London Broough of Havering @ Stratford.jpg EMU 7512048[ citation needed ] Liverpool Street – Shenfield [26] 1980–19811980–2022
Class 315 Tfl Rail Diagram.png
Class 345 Aventra Unit 345007 at Shenfield 7th July 2017 06.jpg EMU 901457 or 9702015–2019June 2017–present
Crossrail Class 345.png

    Past fleet

    Former units operated by TfL Rail include:

     ClassImageType Top speed Carriages Number Routes operated Built Withdrawn
     mph  km/h 
    Class 360 Desiro TfL 360205 at Paddington.jpg EMU 10016055 London Paddington – Heathrow Terminal 4 (Heathrow Connect)2004–20052020
    Heathrow Connect Class 360 2 w-pantograph.png

    Related Research Articles

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Manor Park railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest Gate railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 315</span> Class of 61 British 4-car electric multiple units

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 345</span> British electric passenger train

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth line</span> Railway in London, England

    The Elizabeth line is a high-frequency hybrid urban–suburban rail service in London and its suburbs. It runs services on dedicated infrastructure in central London from the Great Western Main Line west of Paddington station to Abbey Wood and via Whitechapel to the Great Eastern Main Line near Stratford; along the Great Western Main Line to Reading and Heathrow Airport in the west; and along the Great Eastern Main Line to Shenfield in the east. The service is named after Queen Elizabeth II, who officially opened the line on 17 May 2022 during her Platinum Jubilee year; passenger services started on 24 May 2022. Despite being named under the same system as London Underground lines, and having sections which are underground, the Elizabeth line is not classified as a London Underground line.

    References

    1. ↑ "TfL Rail: What we do". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015.
    2. ↑ "MTR Crossrail – Crossrail Rolling Stock". Archived from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
    3. ↑ Smith, Howard. "Crossrail – Moving to the Operating Railway Rail and Underground Panel 12 February 2015" (PDF). 12 February 2015. Transport for London. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
    4. ↑ Jobson, Robert (23 February 2016). "Crossrail named the Elizabeth line: Royal title unveiled as the Queen visits Bond Street station". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
    5. ↑ TfL announces shortlist of bidders to run Crossrail services Archived 27 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Crossrail 25 June 2013
    6. ↑ Crossrail shortlist reveals four contenders Archived 8 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Rail News 25 June 2013
    7. ↑ TfL announces MTR to run Crossrail services Archived 22 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Crossrail 18 July 2014
    8. ↑ MTR Corporation wins £1.4 billion contract to run Crossrail services Archived 8 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Rail Technology Magazine 18 July 2014
    9. ↑ Blackburn, Ralph (25 May 2015). "TfL to take over Abellio Greater Anglia lines from May 31". Romford Recorder. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
    10. ↑ "The future of cross-London travel arrives". Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    11. ↑ "TFL to operate Heathrow Connect services ahead of Elizabeth line opening". Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
    12. ↑ "TFL Rail to operate services to Reading from 15 December". Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
    13. ↑ "Crossrail Trains Have Started Running to Reading... Early!". 26 November 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
    14. 1 2 "First '345' reaches Heathrow". Key Modern Railways. 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
    15. ↑ "Our Plan to Complete the Elizabeth Line". Crossrail. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
    16. ↑ "Liverpool Street to Romford and Shenfield" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
    17. ↑ "Passengers set to benefit as key commuter rail services transfer to TfL". Transport for London. 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
    18. ↑ Crossrail rolling stock and depot contract to be awarded to Bombardier Archived 8 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Department for Transport 6 February 2014
    19. ↑ Bombardier wins Crossrail train contract Archived 19 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette 6 February 2014
    20. ↑ "The future of cross-London travel arrives". Transport for London. 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    21. ↑ "Crossrail: The Western Approach". London Reconnections. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018.
    22. ↑ "Heathrow 360s Retired". Modern Railways . No. 865. October 2020. p. 85.
    23. ↑ "TfL Rail to operate services to Reading from 15 December". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
    24. ↑ Rosehill, Harry (26 November 2019). "Crossrail Trains Have Started Running To Reading...Early!". Londonist. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
    25. ↑ "TfL Rail timetables". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
    26. ↑ Russell, David (June 2022). "Class 315". Units. Rail Express. No. 313. p. 27.
    Preceded by Operator of Crossrail concession
    2015–2022    		Succeeded by
    Elizabeth line
    24 May 2022
    Preceded by
    Preceded by
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