Heathrow tunnels closed (03/07)

[SECR263]

Indicators say tunnel shut at Heathrow for safety reasons, any update as to problem? Thanks

 

[sh24]

Ventilation failure in the tunnels. Looks like service resuming soon (oh no it isn't)

 

[zwk500]

National Rail advising no service to/from Heathrow until approximately 12:00

Incident: Heathrow Airport | National Rail

Lines reopened: disruption to / from Heathrow Airport. Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[deltic]

I have a query about National Rail advice on this issue.

On its website it states

Customers at Acton Mainline, Hanwell and West Ealing can circulate using local buses to Ealing Broadway, Southall or Hayes & Harlington with more regular services into London and the inner west.

The use of the term circulate is unnecessary and poor rail jargon and the link they provide is to Traveline rather than TfL whose travel planner is far more relevant. If those in the industry cannot provide helpful plain English advice what hope does the ordinary travelling public have.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

The use of the term circulate is unnecessary and poor rail jargon and the link they provide is to Traveline rather than TfL whose travel planner is far more relevant. If those in the industry cannot provide helpful plain English advice what hope does the ordinary travelling public have.

move continuously or freely through a closed system or area.

I feel like most people would understand it, even if the word doesn't entirely make sense (the only closed system here is the Heathrow Tunnels).
What is the internal definition?

 

[zwk500]

I feel like most people would understand it, even if the word doesn't entirely make sense (the only closed system here is the Heathrow Tunnels).
What is the internal definition?

Normally, circulation on the railway would refer to passengers travelling beyond their intended destination and boarding a service in the opposite direction to use the other (or an alternative) platform, usually either because services cannot stop in one direction or because the passenger would not be able to exit from the normal platform. Or indeed, boarding a train in the 'wrong' direction and then changing at the next station to 'double back' for similar reasons.

In this instance passengers are being advised to use local buses away from London to catch services back towards central London, due to the stopping pattern of Elizabeth line trains and the withdrawal of the Heathrow service.

 

[SWT_USER]

I have a query about National Rail advice on this issue.

On its website it states




The use of the term circulate is unnecessary and poor rail jargon and the link they provide is to Traveline rather than TfL whose travel planner is far more relevant. If those in the industry cannot provide helpful plain English advice what hope does the ordinary travelling public have.

Really poor if no alternative services were provided at those stations. Could they not turn the T4 terminators at Hayes or West Drayton?

 

[ChrisHogan]

Closed due to reported problems with the tunnel. Heathrow Express suspended. Most XR services terminating at Hayes & Harlington but a few extended to West Drayton meaning the largely unused platform 5 is finally seeing some services other than freights.

Closure initially was to mid-day but gradually extended and now to close of service.

 

[AndrewE]

I have a query about National Rail advice on this issue.

The use of the term circulate is unnecessary and poor rail jargon and the link they provide is to Traveline rather than TfL whose travel planner is far more relevant. If those in the industry cannot provide helpful plain English advice what hope does the ordinary travelling public have.

I wonder whether the person posting the advice is not a native English speaker, French maybe? An unfortunate choice of word but possibly the closest to the word that would be used in French.

 

[Acton1991]

Lots of cancellations throughout the day at Acton Main Line… we are used to it by now! Interestingly, I travelled home on a Maidenhead service that called additionally at AML, Hanwell etc.

Service recovery isn’t a strong suit in the west. Is it very difficult to terminate trains at Hayes & Harlington instead? I’m not sure of the complexities but surely this would be the preferred to keep the service regular.

 

[SynthD]

Is it very difficult to terminate trains at Hayes & Harlington instead?

It’s not easy to do often or in a busy service. The bay, platform 5, is to the north of the running lines, which is less ideal than the middle line at West Drayton.

Trains are currently in the Heathrow platforms and tunnel. 9:36pm is the first successful train I see.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

which is less ideal than the middle line at West Drayton.

West Drayton's "spare" platform isn't in the middle either.

 

[Geogregor]

Does anyone know what the failure was? You would think that such crucial system like ventilation has some backups.

 

[Sly Old Fox]

West Drayton's "spare" platform isn't in the middle either.

Although the extra platform is also to the north, you can utilise it is a pseudo ‘up relief’ and use the normal up relief platform as a middle ‘bay’.

 

[Benjwri]

It’s not easy to do often or in a busy service. The bay, platform 5, is to the north of the running lines, which is less ideal than the middle line at West Drayton.

Trains are currently in the Heathrow platforms and tunnel. 9:36pm is the first successful train I see.

I’m glad to see these two platforms, pushed as essential to service recovery, are being put to good use given what I’m sure was a fairly eye watering cost to extend them

 

[SynthD]

West Drayton's "spare" platform isn't in the middle either.

My mistake, I was thinking of the London reconnections post about this.