Posted 19th March 2018 | 2 Comments
TfL to charge Heathrow premium on Elizabeth Line
TRANSPORT for London has announced that there will be ‘special single fares’ on Elizabeth Line trains to London Heathrow Airport but, as the terminals will stay in Zone 6 for other purposes, Travelcards will be valid and contactless fare capping will continue to apply. Standard TfL fares will apply elsewhere on the Elizabeth Line in Zones 1 to 6. Services through central London begin in December.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I'm delighted to announce that the cost of travelling on the Elizabeth Line in Zones 1-6 will be the same price as a similar journey on the tube – fulfilling a key manifesto pledge to deliver truly world-class transport infrastructure which is also accessible and affordable for all Londoners."
The first step in the changeover comes in May, when TfL takes over Heathrow Connect services between Paddington and Heathrow. For the time being the existing trains will be used and the half-hourly frequency to the airport terminals will be maintained, but fares will fall slightly. The frequency between Hayes & Harlington and Paddington will be 15min.
Heathrow Airport to Ealing Broadway currently costs £8.00 using Heathrow Connect. From May, this will be £7.30 during Monday-Friday peaks and £6.00 for the rest of the time. Canary Wharf to Heathrow Airport currently costs £13.20 using the Underground and Heathrow Connect, and this will become £12.10 in the peaks and £10.10 at other times.
More frequent services on the local route to the airport can be expected when the new Class 345 Aventra units have been cleared to operate in the Heathrow tunnels. Testing has been under way for several months.
TfL said ‘the Mayor's decision to extend the TfL fare freeze to the Elizabeth Line demonstrates London's position as a global leader in infrastructure and development’, but TfL is under pressure because it is facing a reported budget shortfall of £400 million. £80 million of this has been attributed to a fall in Underground passenger totals of nearly 4 per cent, while income from commercial sources, including advertising, is also down.
Reader Comments:
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Noam Bleicher, Oxford
'... the terminals will stay in Zone 6 for other purposes, Travelcards will be valid and contactless fare capping will continue to apply.'
So if I make some bus and tube journeys on one day, then board a Crossrail train at Bond St or PAD and travel to Heathrow, it won't cost me any more than if I had boarded a Picc Line train at Leicester Square and travelled to Heathrow?
[Here’s the relevant wording of the TfL release: “As part of the integrated service, daily fare capping for Oyster and contactless and weekly fare capping for contactless will apply, with travelcards that cover Zone 6 able to be used on services to Heathrow. For daily and weekly capping, Heathrow will be designated as ‘Zone 6’, meaning that ‘pay as you go’ customers travelling to and from the Airport from within Zones 1-6 will never pay more than the daily cap of £12.50.”--Editor.]
Andrew Gwilt , Basildon Essex
What about Hanwell railway station in the London Borough of Ealing in West London. Would Hanwell station have a new upgraded station with new ticket kiosks, ticket machines, lightings, LED departure screens and platforms extended to accommodate longer trains including Elizabeth Line Class 345 9-Car trains and GWR Class 387 8-Car and 12-Car trains. As Southall and Hayes & Harlington stations have already been upgraded. Aswell platform extensions at West Ealing and Acton Main Line.
As stations in East London including Harold Wood, Gidea Park, Romford, Chadwell Heath, Goodmayes, Seven Kings, Ilford, Manor Park, Forest Gate and Maryland stations that are having platforms extended for 9-Car Class 345’s to serve those stations.