LONDON: The transport management of UK has announced that more trains will serve Heathrow Airport and a western rail link. Alongside the introduction of Oyster and Contactless gates at Heathrow from May 2018, TfL and department of transport have agreed for two Crossrail, Elizabeth Line trains to stop at Terminal 5 every hour.
The total number of trains from central London to Heathrow will therefore increase from 18 per hour to 22.
This means a Heathrow-bound train will leave central London every two-and-a-half minutes.
Passengers travelling to London via HS2 will be able to use the Old Oak Common Interchange to get the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow.
The plans are designed to help Heathrow achieve its goal of ensuring half of all journeys to the airport are made by public transport by 2030.
As well as improving connectivity with central London, routes for passengers from the west are also being looked into as areas of improvement.
When Crossrail fully opens in December 2019, there will be every hour:
12 Piccadilly Line trains (six to Terminals 2, 3 and 4 and six to Terminals 2, 3 and 5)
Six Elizabeth Line Trains (four serving Terminals 2, 3 and 4 and two serving Terminals 2, 3 and 5)
Four Heathrow Express trains
An additional two trains per hour to Terminal 5 are also under consideration, as is western rail access to the Europe’s busiest airport.
The airport is also working to improve the bus service network to ensure easier and more frequent access to the terminals.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “This agreement is a big step forward. Together, Heathrow, TfL and the DfT are working together to boost rail connections to the UK’s hub, giving our passengers more choices to travel sustainably between Heathrow and London.”
“With 22 trains per hour, an ambition to add even more services and easy to use Oyster and Contactless ticketing, Heathrow will be at the heart of an integrated transport network and our passengers will reap the benefits.”
