Poor use of capacity - Elizabeth line Western Section
Request ID: FOI-0912-2425 Date published: 10 July 2024
You asked
FOI-0703-2425: Dear TfL,
Further to this request, please provide the following information:
Please provide a copy of the contract between GWR and TfL which outlines the specification for the "semi-fast" services that have been transferred from GWR to TfL.
I would like to know which organisation first made enquiries about transferring these services from GWR to TfL, and why it was in TfL's interest to have these services transferred to them.
I would also like to know how passengers benefit from having these "semi-fast" services, when the services they replaced had:
Shorter journey times (even with the interchange time between PAD NR and PAD EL)
Better facilities on board the trains (such as toilets and table seating)
An adequate number of seats for the number of people travelling
Better connections for customers who have either come from, or are continuing their journey on the Windsor, Marlow, and Henley branch lines
Provided redundancy for customers travelling on the Reading branch, who had an alternative route, should there have been an issue on the Elizabeth Line, not affecting GWR
Run on the main lines, and made it easier to enhance the service for passengers travelling to stations closer to London, on the relief lines
I look forward to hearing from you within 20 days.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0912-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 20th June 2024. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1: Please provide a copy of the contract between GWR and TfL which outlines the specification for the "semi-fast" services that have been transferred from GWR to TfL.
Answer: There is no such contract between TfL and GWR. TfL specifies the Elizabeth line service. The Department for Transport specifies the GWR service. Question 2: I would like to know which organisation first made enquiries about transferring these services from GWR to TfL, and why it was in TfL's interest to have these services transferred to them.
Answer: The Department for Transport and Transport for London announced on 27 March 2014 that Crossrail would be extended to Reading. The service changes would have been agreed then.
Question 3: I would also like to know how passengers benefit from having these "semi-fast" services, when the services they replaced had:
Shorter journey times (even with the interchange time between PAD NR and PAD EL) Better facilities on board the trains (such as toilets and table seating) An adequate number of seats for the number of people travelling Better connections for customers who have either come from, or are continuing their journey on the Windsor, Marlow, and Henley branch lines Provided redundancy for customers travelling on the Reading branch, who had an alternative route, should there have been an issue on the Elizabeth Line, not affecting GWR Run on the main lines, and made it easier to enhance the service for passengers travelling to stations closer to London, on the relief lines
Answer: This is not a request for recorded information under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. However, passengers benefit as there is no need to change at Paddington for central London and beyond, and stations have been improved along the route to provide better facilities.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
