TfL takes over Heathrow Connect services

Transport for London (TfL) took over operation of the Heathrow Connect services linking London Paddington with Heathrow Airport Terminals 2-4 on May 20, and a day later the half-hourly Great Western Railway (GWR) services from Paddington to Hayes & Harlington.

The takeover is in preparation for the start of Crossrail services through central London from December this year. The current service frequencies are being maintained.

Single fares on TfL Rail to Heathrow Airport are claimed to be “in line with or cheaper than” the former Heathrow Connect fares, and although TfL zones do not apply to Heathrow Airport pay-as-you-go fares, passengers will be able to use Oyster and contactless payment from Paddington to Heathrow Airport.

For daily and weekly capping of fares, Heathrow is now designated as Zone 6, meaning pay-as-you-go customers travelling to and from the airport within Zones 1-6 will not pay more than the current daily cap of £12.50.

When Crossrail is open, it will initially operate as three distinct services: Paddington (Elizabeth Line) to Abbey Wood via Central London; Paddington (main line) to Heathrow; and Liverpool Street (main line) to Shenfield. On the first day of Class 345 passenger operations on the Great Western Main Line (May 21), TfL Rail 345014 stands at Hayes & Harlington, with the 1317 to London Paddington. The ‘345s’ cannot run to Heathrow Airport due to signalling problems, meaning TfL is using former Heathrow Connect Class 360/2s on that route until the autumn.