Heathrow Express staff in strike ballot

[feline1]

It's fine offering the passenger choice of a 'premium' service from Heathrow - faster, more luggage space, more expensive - indeed it's more than fine, it's ideal. It's what passenger choice and privatisation is supposed to be all about.

What I object is the airport having Heathrow Express sales people in the terminal accosting travellers and giving them the false impression that it isn't a choice, it's the ONLY way to travel.
Where are the TfL and National Express sales people standing beside them, given the chance to make a pitch for their cheaper, slower, more basic services, allowing passengers to CHOOSE on the basis of balanced information?

It's a pretty basic, uncomplicated point, if someone can't grasp it, I have to wonder whether they are being deliberately obtuse.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I am pretty sure that those paths will just be assigned to Crossrail where they can be used more effectively than on five car trains that charge through a busy commuter corridor that can support ten car trains at larger loadings.

BAA own the HEx paths, they are not regulated by ORR.
If BAA want to keep them, it's up to them.

Will Heathrow Express and/or Heathrow Connect end up using the Cross-rail link?

Heathrow Connect services will become Crossrail services as part of the agreement with BAA (freeing up the 360s for use elsewhere).

 

[hassaanhc]

It's fine offering the passenger choice of a 'premium' service from Heathrow - faster, more luggage space, more expensive - indeed it's more than fine, it's ideal. It's what passenger choice and privatisation is supposed to be all about.

What I object is the airport having Heathrow Express sales people in the terminal accosting travellers and giving them the false impression that it isn't a choice, it's the ONLY way to travel.
Where are the TfL and National Express sales people standing beside them, given the chance to make a pitch for their cheaper, slower, more basic services, allowing passengers to CHOOSE on the basis of balanced information?

It's a pretty basic, uncomplicated point, if someone can't grasp it, I have to wonder whether they are being deliberately obtuse.

Well, BAA own the whole Terminal 5 station which means they call the shots inside the station with regards to staff placement. In fact this is all the room given to LUL's ticket office at Terminal 5. We don't know which station was being given in the case above and this is the only terminal where both operators use the same station (the other terminals have the HX/LUL stations completely separate)

 

[Mojo]

Well, BAA own the whole Terminal 5 station which means they call the shots inside the station with regards to staff placement. In fact this is all the room given to LUL's ticket office at Terminal 5.

FWIW the "LUL ticket office" at Terminal 5 is actually run by Heathrow Express, and the Underground branded ticket machines in the terminal building are also Heathrow Express but with old LU branding, and as such do not offer the full range that would be available from an LUL machine. At Terminal 5 there is a London Underground Station Supervisor on duty, during traffic hours only, and that's it.

 

[jon0844]

The question is not whether HX is a good idea or not - the question is whether it offers enough to be superior to simply doubling the Crossrail frequency to the airport.

I am pretty sure that those paths will just be assigned to Crossrail where they can be used more effectively than on five car trains that charge through a busy commuter corridor that can support ten car trains at larger loadings.

I think people want and expect a fast airport link, and Crossrail can't deliver that unless some services are going to skip some stops?

Some people might arrive at Heathrow, put their bags on HEX, arrive at Paddington and then jump in a cab. They may have no desire to travel on a train with frequent stops, having to look after bags that may have no proper place to go, as well as have to make sure they're ready to alight with their bags at their stop (rather than know that with HEX, you have loads of time to gather your things, get ready and get off).

Much as I like trains, when I arrive at some foreign airports, I don't even want to bother with an airport train and look for a cab straight away (and pay the price!). It's only once my bags have been dropped at the hotel that I feel ready to experience the wonders of a foreign public transport system! But an airport express train is, to me, a lot nicer than a service open to all.

Hence another reason why Gatwick Express is so poor, and even the Stansted Express isn't always ideal.

 

[Greenback]

I think people want and expect a fast airport link, and Crossrail can't deliver that unless some services are going to skip some stops?

Some people might arrive at Heathrow, put their bags on HEX, arrive at Paddington and then jump in a cab. They may have no desire to travel on a train with frequent stops, having to look after bags that may have no proper place to go, as well as have to make sure they're ready to alight with their bags at their stop (rather than know that with HEX, you have loads of time to gather your things, get ready and get off).

I think you are correct. A business class traveller may not want to get on a Tube train after na overnight flight that may have cost thousands, and most probably their employer will be paying for it anyway, so they will not be concerned about whether it is the cheapest option.

Such air passengers, wnat a premium service, and in this respect at least, HeX is competing with private transfers by road rather than the Tube or coach.

Much as I like trains, when I arrive at some foreign airports, I don't even want to bother with an airport train and look for a cab straight away (and pay the price!). It's only once my bags have been dropped at the hotel that I feel ready to experience the wonders of a foreign public transport system! But an airport express train is, to me, a lot nicer than a service open to all.

I tend to agree. Although it sounds like I am more prepared than yourself to take a metro or even a local bus to avoid the expense of a cab, an express rail link is far more appealing if one exists, and I am prepared to pay more to use it (though not as much as HeX charges!)

 

[paulravuslante]

I dont know if it is still the case but I had read that Hex was slightly unusual in so much as when the drivers were on spare turns they also did customer service roles such as despatch, guarding and other rolls with in the company?

No idea if this still happens today?

No this is no longer the case. Apparently RSSB weren't happy with the arrangement so drivers just drive now.

Thanks, that actually explains why nothing happened to the group of people who went "Nah not you again" when he came round :roll:

I'm sure this line is notorious for fare evasion?

I would say so as there are no gates. Also you rarely see FGW RPIs on this section. They all seem to patrol outside of London, where the fares are higher.

Either way I'm certain the extra capacity from Crossrail will be much welcomed by everyone along the route, particularly at places like Southall where for ages there has been only a 7 minute gap between a 5 car HC and 2-3 car FGW (each 2tph), the latter are much more likely to be packed in the Up direction due to coming from further away and being smaller trains, and would certainly improve the fact that you are left with a 23 minute wait if you can't get on a FGW service. Chronic overcrowding has persisted for years along the whole Crossrail route along here as there aren't enough DMUs to expand the service

Yeah but the locals at Southall will still all try to get on at the door closest to the entrance no matter how many carriages it has!

Well, BAA own the whole Terminal 5 station which means they call the shots inside the station with regards to staff placement. In fact this is all the room given to LUL's ticket office at Terminal 5. We don't know which station was being given in the case above and this is the only terminal where both operators use the same station (the other terminals have the HX/LUL stations completely separate)

The main ticket office upstairs also sells LUL tickets. When this was being designed it had to not promote one service over the other, so no branding was used and equal numbers of ticket machines had to be provided for each service. The staff serving are Hex staff though so you can guess which tickets they prefer to sell!
The picture you show is just the excess fares office at the gate line, which does a roaring trade in Oyster refunds at the end of the weekend.

FWIW the "LUL ticket office" at Terminal 5 is actually run by Heathrow Express, and the Underground branded ticket machines in the terminal building are also Heathrow Express but with old LU branding, and as such do not offer the full range that would be available from an LUL machine. At Terminal 5 there is a London Underground Station Supervisor on duty, during traffic hours only, and that's it.

I'm not sure how much this was to do with LULs reluctance to recruit more staff vs Heathrow wanting to operate everything at T5. Pretty sure some other LUL stations at the periphery of their empire are mostly staffed by contractors (Harrow & Wealdstone?).