Re: Sydney airport railway - effect on buses

["Dave Proctor" <daproc@sd5.mailbank.com>]

Bradley Torr <btorr@bigpond.nospam.com> wrote in message
01bf3be1$bd089580$861f083d@default">news:01bf3be1$bd089580$861f083d@default...

> What's the Heathrow Express to Paddington? Is that a Network South-East
> service from Paddington to Heathrow non-stop?

Network South east has not existed for over 5 years, since they split up
British Railways and its sectors into TOC's (Train Operating Companies) in
preparation for franchising.

> I'm guessing you don't mean
> the tube because the Heathrow tube stations are on the Piccadilly line,
> which doesn't go to Paddington....

Heathrow Express is a totally new operation - it was a partnership between
British Rail and the British Airports Authority (now wholly owned by BAA).
It involved a new line being built from Airport Junction to Heathrow, and
the electrification of the current line from Paddington. New rolling stock
was built especially for it (Class 332, I think, although open to
correction). The service operates from two dedicated platforms at
Paddington, and check-in facilities are available at Paddington.

There are two dedicated platforms at Paddington, with at least one train
always in the platform. I believe the frequencies are every 15 minutes.

> What's the point of that when you
> already have the tube servicing all four terminals, for (I'm guessing
here)
> GBP 4.00?

Journey times? HE takes about 20 minutes in dedicated services. LU takes
about 45mins, and you share the trains with commuters. Fine in the mornings,
when you are the first ones on (coming from LHR to London) but a pain in the
neck in the afternoons heading to LHR and sharing the train with commuters.

--
DaveProctor
thadocta AT dingoblue.net.au