Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
TfL set to run Crossrail trains from December
EVERYONE hold onto your hats because something is happening with the Elizabeth Line.
It has become a bit of a running joke that Crossrail will never actually happen because it has been in the works for such a long time.
While there is still a way to go until the whole project is complete, Transport for London (TfL) has some exciting news about a development coming in December.
From Sunday December 15, TfL will start running stopping services between Paddington mainline and Reading using the new Elizabeth Line trains.
This is ahead of the service becoming part of the Elizabeth Line and TfL has also announced that contactless pay is going to be accepted between Paddington mainline and Reading from January 2020.
To clarify, the Elizabeth Line itself is not opening in December. A service currently operated by Great Western Railway (GWR) will be operated as TfL Rail from December and use the new Elizabeth Line trains on that route.
Essentially it is getting it all ready for when the Elizabeth Line actually happens.
TfL Rail will run four of these stopping trains an hour between Paddington and Reading, just like GWR do now. Two an hour will remain at off peak times.
The service replaces some of the current Great Western inner suburban route, but fast trains by GWR will continue to run from Reading, Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough to Paddington.
At the moment, TfL zones do not operate beyond, West Drayton but these new changes mean passengers will be able to use contactless pay-as-you-go for the first time all the way from Paddington mainline to Reading.
This will come in on January 2 2020. Between December 15 and January 2, existing ticket arrangements will still apply and TfL Rail fares will be the same as the current GWR ones.
However, in line with TfL’s policy, any child under the age of 11 and accompanied by an adult, as well as customers eligible for the Freedom Pass, will be able to travel for free to Reading on the new TfL service.
When contactless comes in, adult pay-as-you-go fares between Iver and Read are anticipated to be cheaper or at least in line with standard single and return fares on the line.
Fares have not officially been set yet though and all will be done so closer to the time.
Pay-as-you-go with Oyster will not, however, be extended beyond West Drayton because of limitations with the system as it is more than 15 years old.
Many people simply use a contactless card payment instead now.
Howard Smith, operations director for TfL Rail, said: “Starting TfL Rail services to Reading is another step towards opening London’s new railway, the Elizabeth line.
“Customers will see staff at every station and improvements being made to stations along the route, including the installation of lifts to provide step-free access. They will also be able to enjoy the convenience of pay-as-you-go contactless payments all the way to Reading.”