Poor use of capacity - Elizabeth line Western Section
Request ID: FOI-0374-2425 Date published: 29 May 2024
You asked
Dear TfL,
Please provide the following information.
1. A copy of the document that outlines the passenger services which MTR EL are required to run between Paddington and Heathrow / Reading.
2. MTR EL currently run "semi-fast" services to and from Reading which call at Twyford, Maidenhead, Burnham, Slough, West Drayton and Ealing Broadway (and sometimes Acton Main Line) in the morning peak, and at Ealing Broadway, West Drayton, Slough, Burnham, Maidenhead, Twyford and Reading in the evening peak.
a. Who was responsible for the creation of this stupid service, which crawls through and doesn't stop at Southall and Hayes and Harlington - two stations which are already overcrowded and are desperate for extra capacity?
b. Will TfL commit to ending this pointless skipping of Southall and Hayes and Harlington stations by amending the calling patterns for these services?
c. Please provide a copy of the document which states that MTR EL are required to run these ridiculous "semi fast" services.
3. Have TfL or MTR EL ever considered amending, or attempted to amend, the calling pattern of Abbey Wood to Heathrow T4 trains (in both directions), so that these trains call at fewer stations between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington?
4. Currently, the gap between a Heathrow T4 train and the next westbound service (towards Reading) has to be 7 mins, for journey times to be unaffected by congestion.
a. Are MTR EL and TfL aware that such a large gap between trains causes unnecessary and severe overcrowding on the Reading bound train behind the Heathrow T4 train?
b. What options have MTR EL and TfL considered for resolving this problem?
c. Do TfL and MTR EL believe that calling Reading / Maidenhead services at Hanwell instead of trains to / from Heathrow T4 would be a viable solution to this problem?
I look forward to hearing from you within 20 working days.
Thanks,
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0374-2425/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 1 May 2024 asking for information about the Elizabeth line.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
1. A copy of the document that outlines the passenger services which MTR EL are required to run between Paddington and Heathrow / Reading. The timetable specification is documented in the Service Level Commitment (SLC), which is issued to MTREL by TfL. There are a small number of non-compliances, which TfL and MTREL will endeavour to resolve in due course (see attached). 2. MTR EL currently run "semi-fast" services to and from Reading which call at Twyford, Maidenhead, Burnham, Slough, West Drayton and Ealing Broadway (and sometimes Acton Main Line) in the morning peak, and at Ealing Broadway, West Drayton, Slough, Burnham, Maidenhead, Twyford and Reading in the evening peak.
Who was responsible for the creation of this stupid service, which crawls through and doesn't stop at Southall and Hayes and Harlington - two stations which are already overcrowded and are desperate for extra capacity?
These services are successors to the services that were originally operated by GWR and ran non-stop between Paddington and Slough. MTREL has since added additional calls at Ealing Broadway and West Drayton, as these services follow other stopping services. However, it is not possible to add calls at Southall or Hayes & Harlington without extending the journey times of these trains, and other peak services. b. Will TfL commit to ending this pointless skipping of Southall and Hayes and Harlington stations by amending the calling patterns for these services? TfL will continue to review and modify the SLC to reflect passenger demand and will look to take advantage of any structural changes to the national timetable that may facilitate this. c. Please provide a copy of the document which states that MTR EL are required to run these ridiculous "semi fast" services. Please see the attached document. 3. Have TfL or MTR EL ever considered amending, or attempted to amend, the calling pattern of Abbey Wood to Heathrow T4 trains (in both directions), so that these trains call at fewer stations between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington? The Heathrow Terminal 4 services call at all stations between Paddington and Heathrow, in order to provide direct connections between the intermediate stations and the airport, as originally envisaged by the Crossrail project. The Heathrow Terminal 5 service provides a limited-stop service between Hayes & Harlington and Paddington. 4. Currently, the gap between a Heathrow T4 train and the next westbound service (towards Reading) has to be 7 mins, for journey times to be unaffected by congestion. a. Are MTR EL and TfL aware that such a large gap between trains causes unnecessary and severe overcrowding on the Reading bound train behind the Heathrow T4 train? The current spacing of Elizabeth line trains is required in order to provide sufficient capacity for freight services, in particular freight trains operating to and from Acton Freight Yard, which is adjacent to Acton Main Line station. TfL will continue to review and modify the SLC to reflect passenger demand and will look to take advantage of any structural changes to the national timetable that may facilitate this.
What options have MTR EL and TfL considered for resolving this problem?
There is no immediate solution available due to the frequency of freight services. TfL will continue to review and modify the SLC to reflect passenger demand and will look to take advantage of any structural changes to the national timetable that may facilitate this. b. Do TfL and MTR EL believe that calling Reading / Maidenhead services at Hanwell instead of trains to / from Heathrow T4 would be a viable solution to this problem? There is no immediate solution available due to the frequency of freight services. Adding additional stops at Hanwell would extend journey times between London and Maidenhead / Reading. The timetable constraint will still exist at Acton, where sufficient space is built into the timetable for freight traffic, including trains operating to and from Acton Freight Yard. TfL will continue to review and modify the SLC to reflect passenger demand and will look to take advantage of any structural changes to the national timetable that may facilitate this.
Please let me know if this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
