TfL Rail

TfL Rail was the concession which operated commuter services on two separate railway lines in London, England and its environs whilst the Crossrail construction project linking these lines was underway. It ran from 2015 until May 2022, upon the opening of the Crossrail central section, when TfL Rail was rebranded as Elizabeth line and the name was discontinued.[2][3][4]

This article is about the former railway service serving London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire run by TfL. For the current service, see Elizabeth line.

TfL Rail
A Class 345 at Shenfield
A Class 345 at Shenfield
Overview
OwnerTransport for London
Locale
Transit type
Number of lines2
Line number
  • Shenfield - Liverpool Street
  • Paddington - Hayes & Harlington, Heathrow Terminal 4 and Reading
Number of stations32 (22 managed)
Websitetfl.gov.uk/modes/tfl-rail/
Operation
Began operation31 May 2015 (2015-05-31)
Ended operation23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) (rebranded as Elizabeth line)
Operator(s)MTR Corporation
Reporting marksXR
Technical
System length36 miles 54 chains (59.0 km)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV AC overhead lines
TfL Rail
Miles from Liverpool Street
20¼
 Shenfield National Rail
18¼
 Brentwood
 
Greater London
150
 Harold Wood
13½
 Gidea Park
12½
 Romford London Overground National Rail
100
 Chadwell Heath
9¼
 Goodmayes
8½
 Seven Kings
7¼
 Ilford
6¼
 Manor Park
5¼
 Forest Gate
4½
 Maryland
40
 Stratford Central line (London Underground) Jubilee Line Docklands Light Railway London Overground National Rail
Pudding Mill Lane portal
00
 Liverpool Street Central line (London Underground) Circle line (London Underground) Hammersmith & City Line Metropolitan Line London Overground National Rail
Crossrail
00
 Paddington Bakerloo Line Circle line (London Underground) District Line Hammersmith & City Line National Rail
Royal Oak portal
4¼
 Acton Main Line
5¾
 Ealing Broadway Central line (London Underground) District Line National Rail
6½
 West Ealing National Rail
7¼
 Hanwell
90
 Southall
110
 Hayes & Harlington National Rail
Heathrow junction
14¾
 Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 Piccadilly Line National Rail Airport interchange
16½
 Heathrow Terminal 4 Piccadilly Line Airport interchange
140
 West Drayton National Rail
Greater London
 
14¾
 Iver
16¼
 Langley
18½
 Slough National Rail
210
 Burnham
22½
 Taplow
24¼
 Maidenhead National Rail
310
 Twyford National Rail
360
 Reading National Rail
Miles from Paddington

TfL Rail was introduced on 31 May 2015 when it took control from Abellio Greater Anglia of the commuter "metro" service between London Liverpool Street in central London and Shenfield in Essex. The branch comprised the first 14 stations on the Great Eastern Main Line, with interchange at Shenfield for medium- and long-distance services beyond to East Anglia. TfL Rail had also taken over operation of some services from Paddington to Heathrow Airport and Reading. Services were operated by MTR Corporation under contract to Transport for London (TfL). Between May 2016 and May 2017, TfL Rail carried over 47 million passengers on the Shenfield branch.

History

In June 2013, TfL announced that Arriva, MTR Corporation, Keolis / Go-Ahead Group and National Express had been shortlisted to bid for the concession to operate Crossrail, which was under construction.[5][6]

In July 2014, TfL awarded the contract to Hong Kong's MTR, for a duration of eight years with an option to extend by an additional two years.[7][8]

MTR Corporation (Crossrail) was created as a new train operating company and took control of the "metro" service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield from the previous operator, Abellio Greater Anglia, on 31 May 2015.[9] The existing Class 315 trains were re-painted in TfL Rail livery, and appropriate branding, advertising and message boards were added at the 14 stations along the line. Every station is staffed, from the first train to the last of the day. In June 2017, Class 345 trains began running between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield.[10]

In May 2018, TfL Rail took over operation of the Heathrow Connect service between London Paddington and Heathrow, as well as some GWR services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington.[11] In December 2019, TfL Rail took over operation of the Great Western Railway stopping services between London Paddington and Reading. In November 2019, Class 345 trains began running between London Paddington and Reading, as a soft launch of the service.[12][13] In July 2020, Class 345 trains began running between London Paddington and Heathrow.[14]

The two branches became part of the Elizabeth line when the central section opened on 24 May 2022, with the current branches connecting up with the core later.[15]

Route

The eastern branch of TfL Rail ran over the existing 20 miles 16 chains (32.5 km) of track on the Great Eastern Main Line between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield. The western branches operated over part of the Great Western Main Line and the Heathrow tunnel between London Paddington and Heathrow for 16 miles 38 chains (26.5 km), and entirely over the Great Western Main Line between London Paddington and Reading for 36 miles (58 km).

Stations
Stations served or managed by TfL Rail[16]
Station Image Dates Location
Opened Managed from Served from Zone Local authority
Reading
 30 March 1840Managed by Network Rail15 December 2019N/A[lower-alpha 1]Reading
Twyford
 1 July 1839Managed by Great Western RailwayWokingham
Maidenhead
 1 November 1871Windsor and Maidenhead
Taplow1 September 1872May 2018Buckinghamshire
Burnham1 July 1899Slough
Slough
 8 September 1884Managed by Great Western Railway
Langley1845May 2018
Iver1 December 1924Buckinghamshire
West Drayton4 June 18386Hillingdon
Heathrow Terminal 5[lower-alpha 2]
 27 March 2008Managed by Heathrow ExpressDiversions only[lower-alpha 2]
Heathrow Terminal 4
 23 June 1998May 2018
Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3
Hayes & Harlington
 1864 or 1868May 20185
Southall1 May 18394Ealing
Hanwell1 December 1838
West Ealing
 4 June 18383
Ealing Broadway
 1 December 1838
Acton Main Line1 February 1868
Paddington
 4 June 1838Managed by Network Rail1City of Westminster
Liverpool Street
 2 October 187431 May 2015City of London
Stratford
 20 June 1839Managed by TfL2/3Newham
Maryland6 January 187331 May 20153
Forest Gate1840
Manor Park6 January 18733/4
Ilford20 June 18394Redbridge
Seven Kings1 March 1899
Goodmayes8 February 1901
Chadwell Heath11 January 18645
Romford
 20 June 18396Havering
Gidea Park1 December 1910
Harold Wood1 December 1868
Brentwood1 July 18409Brentwood
Shenfield
 29 March 1843Managed by Greater AngliaC
Abbey Wood
 30 July 184923 October 2017Never served by TfL Rail[lower-alpha 3]4Greenwich and Bexley
  1. Stations between Iver and Reading only accept contactless Pay-as-you-go and are therefore not in the Oyster zones
  2. Heathrow Terminal 5 is not officially served by TfL Rail, but services divert to this station when Heathrow Terminal 4 is closed, for example during the COVID-19 period
  3. TfL Rail did not provide any services at Abbey Wood, but the Elizabeth line, its successor service, does.

Former services

Shenfield branch
A Class 315 and Class 345 at London Liverpool Street

TfL Rail took over operations from Abellio Greater Anglia on 31 May 2015.[17] TfL Rail subsequently introduced a fleet of new Class 345 trains.[18][19] On 22 June 2017, Class 345 trains entered passenger service on the Shenfield branch.[20]

The Class 315 trains continued to be maintained at the existing Ilford depot, but the Class 345 trains are maintained at Old Oak Common and Ilford depots.

Heathrow branch

TfL Rail inherited five Class 360 units from Heathrow Connect when it took over operations on 20 May 2018. These trains were used to operate the existing half-hourly (2tph) service to Heathrow.[21] On 30 July 2020, Class 345 trains entered passenger service on the Heathrow branch.[14] The last Class 360 trains were withdrawn in September 2020.[22]

Reading branch

On 26 September 2019, TfL Rail announced that it would take over the Paddington to Reading stopping services on 15 December 2019,[23] using Class 345 trains in place of the Class 387 and Class 165 trains used by Great Western Railway. Before that, on 25 November 2019 six GWR services a day started to operate using Class 345 trains, operated by TfL, to get drivers ready and stock in place for the main 15 December switch over.[24]

Route tables

Prior to the opening of the Elizabeth line on 24 May 2022, the timetabled weekday off-peak service pattern consisted of: [25]

Shenfield branch
RoutetphCalling atStock
London Liverpool Street to Shenfield8
  • Until May 2021 during weekday peak hours, calling patterns were varied, with some stations omitted on certain services. This was replaced with all stations called by every service from the 16 May 2021 timetable.
  • Gidea Park was used as an alternative eastern terminus for some services, typically at peak times and on Sundays.
Reading and Heathrow branches
RoutetphCalling atStock
London Paddington to Reading2
  • During peak times, service frequency increases up to 4 trains per hour.
 345
London Paddington to Hayes & Harlington2
London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 4[lower-alpha 1]2
  1. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heathrow Terminal 4 station has been closed. Services towards Heathrow Airport have been diverted to Heathrow Terminal 5

Rolling stock

Fleet carried over to the Elizabeth line
 Class Image Type  Top speed  Carriages  Number  Routes operated  Built  Years in operation
 mph   km/h 
Class 315 EMU 75 120 4 8 Liverpool Street – Shenfield[26] 1980-1981 1980–2022
Class 345 Aventra EMU 90 145 7 or 9 70 2015–2019 June 2017–present

    Past fleet

    Former units operated by TfL Rail include:

     Class Image Type  Top speed  Carriages  Number  Routes operated  Built  Withdrawn
     mph   km/h 
    Class 360 Desiro EMU 100 160 5 5 London Paddington – Heathrow Terminal 4 (Heathrow Connect) 2004–2005 2020

    References
    1. "TfL Rail: What we do". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015.
    2. "MTR Crossrail - Crossrail Rolling Stock". Archived from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
    3. Smith, Howard. "Crossrail – Moving to the Operating Railway Rail and Underground Panel 12 February 2015" (PDF). 12 February 2015. Transport for London. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
    4. Jobson, Robert (23 February 2016). "Crossrail named the Elizabeth line: Royal title unveiled as the Queen visits Bond Street station". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
    5. TfL announces shortlist of bidders to run Crossrail services Archived 27 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Crossrail 25 June 2013
    6. Crossrail shortlist reveals four contenders Archived 8 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Rail News 25 June 2013
    7. TfL announces MTR to run Crossrail services Archived 22 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Crossrail 18 July 2014
    8. MTR Corporation wins £1.4 billion contract to run Crossrail services Archived 8 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Rail Technology Magazine 18 July 2014
    9. Blackburn, Ralph (25 May 2015). "TfL to take over Abellio Greater Anglia lines from May 31". Romford Recorder. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
    10. "The future of cross-London travel arrives". Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    11. "TFL to operate Heathrow Connect services ahead of Elizabeth line opening". Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
    12. "TFL Rail to operate services to Reading from 15 December". Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
    13. "Crossrail Trains Have Started Running to Reading... Early!". 26 November 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
    14. "First '345' reaches Heathrow". Key Modern Railways. 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
    15. "Our Plan to Complete the Elizabeth Line". Crossrail. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
    16. "Liverpool Street to Romford and Shenfield" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
    17. "Passengers set to benefit as key commuter rail services transfer to TfL". Transport for London. 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
    18. Crossrail rolling stock and depot contract to be awarded to Bombardier Archived 8 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Department for Transport 6 February 2014
    19. Bombardier wins Crossrail train contract Archived 19 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette 6 February 2014
    20. "The future of cross-London travel arrives". Transport for London. 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    21. "Crossrail: The Western Approach". London Reconnections. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018.
    22. "Heathrow 360s Retired". Modern Railways. No. 865. October 2020. p. 85.
    23. "TfL Rail to operate services to Reading from 15 December". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
    24. Rosehill, Harry (26 November 2019). "Crossrail Trains Have Started Running To Reading...Early!". Londonist. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
    25. "TfL Rail timetables". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
    26. Russell, David (June 2022). "Class 315". Units. Rail Express. No. 313. p. 27.
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