Wikipedia

TfL Rail

This article is about the former railway service serving London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire run by TfL. For the current service, see Elizabeth line.

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]

TfL Rail
A Class 345 at Shenfield
A Class 345 at Shenfield
Overview
OwnerTransport for London
Locale
Transit typeCommuter rail / rapid transit[1]
Number of lines2
Line number
  • Shenfield – Liverpool Street
  • Paddington – Heathrow Terminal 4 / Reading
Number of stations32 (22 managed)
Websitetfl.gov.uk/modes/tfl-rail/ Edit this at Wikidata
Operation
Began operation31 May 2015; 9 years ago (2015-05-31)
Ended operation23 May 2022; 2 years ago (2022-05-23) (rebranded as Elizabeth line)
Operator(s)MTR Corporation
Reporting marksXR
Technical
System length36 miles 54 chains (59.0 km)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 25 kV 50 Hz AC

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

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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

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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

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Stations served by TfL Rail[16]
Station Image Dates Location
Opened Managed from Served from Zone Local authority
Reading     30 March 1840 Managed by Network Rail 15 December 2019 N/A[a] Reading
Twyford     1 July 1839 Managed by Great Western Railway Wokingham
Maidenhead     1 November 1871 Windsor and Maidenhead
Taplow   1 September 1872 May 2018 Buckinghamshire
Burnham   1 July 1899 Slough
Slough     8 September 1884 Managed by Great Western Railway
Langley   1845 May 2018
Iver   1 December 1924 Buckinghamshire
West Drayton   4 June 1838 6 Hillingdon
Heathrow Terminal 5[b]       27 March 2008 Managed by Heathrow Express Diversions only[b]
Heathrow Terminal 4     23 June 1998 May 2018
Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3      
Hayes & Harlington     1864 or 1868 May 2018 5
Southall   1 May 1839 4 Ealing
Hanwell   1 December 1838
West Ealing     4 June 1838 3
Ealing Broadway       1 December 1838
Acton Main Line   1 February 1868
London Paddington         4 June 1838 Managed by Network Rail 1 City of Westminster
Sections disconnected
London Liverpool Street         2 October 1874 Managed by Network Rail 31 May 2015 1 City of London
Stratford           20 June 1839 Managed by TfL 2/3 Newham
Maryland   6 January 1873 31 May 2015 3
Forest Gate   1840
Manor Park   6 January 1873 3/4
Ilford   20 June 1839 4 Redbridge
Seven Kings   1 March 1899
Goodmayes   8 February 1901
Chadwell Heath   11 January 1864 5
Romford       20 June 1839 6 Havering
Gidea Park   1 December 1910
Harold Wood   1 December 1868
Brentwood   1 July 1840 9 Brentwood
Shenfield     29 March 1843 Managed 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. ^ a b 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

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Shenfield branch

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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

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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

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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

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

Shenfield branch
Route tph Calling at Stock
London Liverpool Street to Shenfield 8 345 315
Reading and Heathrow branches
Route tph Calling at Stock
London Paddington to Reading 2[a] 345
London Paddington to Hayes & Harlington 2
London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 4[b] 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

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Fleet carried over to the Elizabeth line

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 Class Image Type  Top speed  Carriages  Number  Routes operated  Built  Years in operation
 mph   km/h 
Class 315   EMU 75 120 4 8[citation needed] Liverpool Street – Shenfield[26] 1980–1981 1980–2022
 
Class 345 Aventra   EMU 90 145 7 or 9 70 2015–2019 June 2017–present
 

Past fleet

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Former units operated by TfL Rail include:

 Class Image Type  Top speed  Carriages  Number  Routes operated  Built  Withdrawn
 mph   km/h 
Class 360 Desiro   EMU 100 160 5 5 London Paddington – Heathrow Terminal 4 (Heathrow Connect) 2004–2005 2020
 

References

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  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. ^ a b "First '345' reaches Heathrow". 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.
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Preceded by Operator of Crossrail concession
2015–2022 		Succeeded by
Elizabeth line
24 May 2022
Preceded by
Preceded by
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