> On 12 Oct, 12:00, Londoncityslicker hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>

>> On 10 Oct, 07:55, Mwmbwls virgin.net> wrote:

>

>>> On Oct 6, 5:39 pm, Boltar yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

>

>>>> When crossrail starts with Hex vanish? I can't see any reason for its
>>>> continued existence but what would happen to the franchise holders?
>>>> Will they get a "cut" in crossrail or will the next (or current?)
>>>> contract expire the day corssrail is due to expire?

>

>>>> B2003

>

>>> According to last nights Evening Standard Ken is going to have an
>>> "intense conversation with BAA about this" No doubt his ability to
>>> impose a new congestion zone around Heathrow could concentrate BAA's
>>> mind wonderfully.

>

>> Do we know if a journey on Crossrail from heathrow is going to be
>> cheaper than HEX?

>
> No decisions about fares will have been taken yet, given that
> Crossrail won't open until at least 2018. Bear in mind that the branch
> off the Great Western mainline to Heathrow is owned by BAA and isn't a
> part of the 'National Rail network', so BAA might have to be placated.
>
> Nonetheless the question of fares is a good one.
>
> The Mayor has already said he will hold "vigorous" talks with BAA
> about the future of HEx, so I'd imagine those talks will cover fares
> and whether there should continue to be a premium-priced Express
> service to/from Heathrow.
>
>
>

>> I bet that they will charge a premium to travel on Crossrail and I
>> cant see Ken allowing Crossrail to be used on a normal zonal
>> Travelcard. (1-6 for Heathrow)

>
> I'd consider it highly likely that, apart from Heathrow, Crossrail
> will adopt the same zonal fares system as for the Underground.
>
> When it comes to Crossrail's fares to/from Heathrow then a premium
> fare might be charged. Two reasons immediately spring to mind...
>
> (1) BAA requiring this to be the case, given that they own the
> Heathrow branch (see above)
> (2) TfL wanting to even out demand between Crossrail and the
> Piccadilly line.
>
> The second point might well be key - if there was no price
> differential then many passengers might simply switch to Crossrail,
> which might end up too busy whilst the Piccadilly line went
> underutilised.
>
> Charging more for Crossrail would balance out passenger load somewhat.
>
> All that said I can't imagine that TfL would be keen on having a
> premium fare priced at the level of HEx.
>
> Much work regarding passenger forecasts and other research, as well as
> negotiating between TfL and BAA, lies ahead.
>
>
>

>> Most travellers will chose Crossrail to travel from Heathrow as their
>> ultimate destination in all likelyhood is not Paddington.

>

>> So i see the possbility HEX being gradually phased out as demand
>> dwindles.

>
> It's hard to predict what will happen. Bear in mind that Crossrail is
> a stopping service and will call at six stations between Paddington
> and Heathrow (that's one more station than the existing Heathrow
> Connect stopping service between Paddington and Heathrow).
>
> There's also a certain prestige about having an Express service that
> whisks people into central London, even if Paddington is on the edge
> of central London.
>
> Whether, though, there would remain a market for HEx after Crossrail
> begins is hard to say. Arguably, it's really BAA's decision as they
> would appear to have a pretty solid long-term track access contract
> with Network Rail for HEx (a service which they own and operate
> through a subsidiary company).
>
> Operationally, it might make it easier for Crossrail if HEx wasn't
> also operating in the Heathrow tunnels.
>
> We shall see what happens.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -