Is Heathrow Connect Worth Keeping?
Today, I’ve gone to Heathrow using Heathrow Connect, ostensibly to take the pictures of the new Stockley Viaduct on the way in and the way out.
There seemed to be very few people going the whole way in either direction and at a price of £13.05 for the round trip with a Senior Railcard, it’s not cheap. But then if you went from Paddington to Heathrow by Underground, it’s only probably about twenty minutes slower.
Quite a few people were using the intermediate stations like Ealing Broadway and Hayes, but as these would not be on special expensive Heathrow prices, I suspect that they are not very profitable for the company.
When Crossrail is completed in 2019, Heathrow Connect is going to be dropped anyway as the new railway will call at all Heathrow Connect stations.
One thing I didn’t like about it was the lengthy underground walks to the station from Terminal 1.
I hope Crossrail will be improving the interchange to the terminals, when it opens. But then Crossrail will not be serving Terminal 5 and a change of train will be required.
How customer-friendly is that?
As Terminal 5 is exclusively British Airways, they must be splitting blood.
The Viaduct At Stockley Coming From Heathrow
I took these pictures coming back.
Such an impressive structure, is one of those that can’t be photographed too many times.
Note that coming back around midday the Heathrow Connect train was almost empty until it pickedup passengers in the Ealing area.
The Viaduct At Stockley Going To Heathrow
I mentioned in this post, that one of my reasons for using Heathrow Connect was to get pictures of the new viaduct at Stockley that carries the Heathrow branch of Crossrail over the Great Western Main Line.
The pictures were taken going to Heathrow.
It looks to be a very substantial viaduct. But then news reports are saving it is one of the largest bridges in the area since Brunel built the Great Western.
Restrictive Rules On Heathrow Connect And Express
I might go to look at Stockley Junction today and the best way would be to get Heathrow Connect to the airport and back.
So I checked up whether I can use my Senior Railcard on the train services. This section on the Heathrow Express gives the details about how you can. There is also this statement.
Yes, you can use a number of railcards on Heathrow Express to obtain discounted travel. To qualify you must purchase at the ticket office, not online or on board.
Obviously, they don’t agree with TfL’s policy of closing ticket offices.
They also don’t agree with the policy of the Gatwick Express as stated here.
Gatwick Express now accepts railcards online allowing you to make great savings on the already discounted online price if you have one of the following cards:
So Heathrow and Gatwick are out of step. Or you can always use the Piccadilly line, where the main problem is overcrowding.
It does appear though that according to Boris, as reported here, Crossrail will have a similar ticketing regime to the Underground.
So perhaps time will be up for the rip-off Heathrow rail services?
Is John Lewis A Lucky Company?
English cricket was in a bad way after the disastrous Australian tour last winter and it does seem that a change of sponsor to Waitrose has brought a change of luck!
You could argue the team would have improved anyway, but even if that is the case then John Lewis have shown superb timing to decide to sponsor the team.
It is said that you have to make your own luck.
John Lewis certainly do!
Especially this morning, with pictures of happy cricketers with Waitrose on their chests, all over the media.
Two Relics Of My Past
On my trip today, I passed these two immaculate Class 20s going about their business, whilst coupled together nose-to-nose.
Two Relics Of My Past
When I started seriously collecting engine numbers around the age of ten, these engines were just being delivered. |So they’re nearly sixty years old!
Note that they often run in pairs like this to have more power and make it easier for the driver!
A Misunderstanding With Heathrow Connect
I was talking to an e-friend last night in California, who shares my interests of trains and large projects. He is getting on a bit and asked me to find an easy route from Heathrow to Barking, from where he can get a mini-cab to his sister’s. He’s coming in to Heathrow and asked me, if I knew of a step-free route.
Last time he took the Piccadilly line to Kings Cross from where he took the lifts up to the Metropolitan line for Barking. He managed it with ease, but wondered if Heathrow Express or Connect would be easier.
As I wanted to go to see the new Crossrail flyover at Stockley and I thought that Heathrow Connect would be a good camera platform to get a photo, as the train turned towards Heathrow, I told my e-friend, that I’d find out.
I checked last night and a web site told me, that my Freedom Pass could be used after 09:30 this morning.
Before I boarded the train, I asked the First Great Western man on the gate and said I’d be alright after 09:30. As it was 11:00, I boarded the train.
But I had to get off at Hayes and Harlington, as the rules seem to have changed.
I was not pleased, to say the least.
There’ll be an unholy row, if when Crossrail opens in a few years time, Freedom Passes can’t be used to the airport.
Update – I spoke to my friend late last night and he’ll be using the Piccadilly line with the Oyster card, he uses when he’s in London. He was also pleased to know, that probably from the end of this year, he’ll be able to use a contactless card as a ticket.
Kings Cross Station Is Almost Finished
As this picture shows Kings Cross station and the news square in front is almost finished.
Kings Cross Station Is Almost Finished
Compare it with the picture shown in this post, which was taken a year ago.
Note how the two ventilation towers have been clad to make them much less hideous.
Do They Get Many Foreign Tourists In Chingford?
I took this picture on a Class 315 going from Liverpool Street to Chingford and Walthamstow.
Do They Get Many Foreign Tourists In Chingford?
Are they getting lots of foreign tourists or are they just hopeful?
I suspect the train may have occasionally worked the Stansted Express.
I Don’t Bake Potatoes Anymore
C usually cooked baked potatoes in their jackets about three times a week.
After she died I did for a time, but since I’ve moved to London, I’ve never cooked them.
I wonder if a subsidiary reason is that I hate food waste. And it seems in this part of London nice single potatoes are hard to buy.
I also tend to buy a microwaveable pack of new potatoes in Waitrose.
The Anonymous Widower 