TfL Rail

TfL Rail

TfL Rail train at Romford in 2015
Overview
Owner Transport for London
Locale Greater London and Essex
Transit type Commuter rail
Number of lines 1
Number of stations 14
Website tfl.gov.uk/modes/tfl-rail/
Operation
Began operation 31 May 2015
Operator(s) MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Ltd
Reporting marks XR
Technical
System length 20 miles 16 chains (32.5 km)
Track gauge Standard

TfL Rail is the current name of the commuter railway line in London and its environs that serves the 14 stations on the Great Eastern Main Line from Liverpool Street in central London to Shenfield in Essex. It is operated by MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Ltd under contract to Transport for London (TfL), and forms part of the future Crossrail route from Shenfield to Reading and Heathrow Airport.[1]

TfL Rail took control of the Liverpool Street to Shenfield "metro" service in May 2015. It will be re-branded as Crossrail in May 2017 when new Class 345 trains are introduced on the line, and Crossrail will be renamed as the Elizabeth line in December 2018 when the central underground section of the route opens.[2][3][4]

History

In June 2013 TfL announced that Arriva, MTR Corporation, Keolis/Go-Ahead Group and National Express Group 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 MTR, with a duration of eight years with an option to extend by an additional two years.[7][8]

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

Route

TfL Rail utilises the existing 20 miles 16 chains (32.5 km) of track on the Great Eastern Main Line between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. The future Crossrail route will retain most of the use of this track, except the portion between Liverpool Street and Stratford, where trains will use new underground tunnels to connect to the central section of the route.

The 14 stations on TfL Rail are:[9]

Station Zone Local authority Interchange Managed by
Liverpool Street 1 City of London National Rail London Underground London Overground Network Rail
Stratford 2/3 Newham National Rail London Underground London Overground Docklands Light Railway London Underground/TfL Rail
Maryland 3 Newham TfL Rail
Forest Gate 3 Newham TfL Rail
Manor Park 3/4 Newham TfL Rail
Ilford 4 Redbridge TfL Rail
Seven Kings 4 Redbridge TfL Rail
Goodmayes 4 Redbridge TfL Rail
Chadwell Heath 5 Barking & Dagenham TfL Rail
Romford 6 Havering National Rail London Overground TfL Rail
Gidea Park 6 Havering TfL Rail
Harold Wood 6 Havering TfL Rail
Brentwood 9 Brentwood TfL Rail
Shenfield C Brentwood National Rail Abellio Greater Anglia

Services

The typical weekday off-peak service pattern is:

During peak times, service frequency is increased and calling patterns vary, with some stations omitted on certain services. Generally, trains starting or terminating at Shenfield during the peak omit the three stations between Ilford and Stratford and/or stations between Romford and Ilford, some trains also start or terminate at Gidea Park and Ilford calling at all stations.

On Sundays there are two trains per hour between Liverpool Street and Shenfield calling at all stations and two trains per hour between Liverpool Street and Gidea Park calling at Stratford, Forest Gate, then all stations.

Future services

The schedule of the handover of services on the Crossrail route is as follows:

Stage Date Notes
Stage 0 May 2015 Existing services between Liverpool Street (main line station) and Shenfield transferred from Abellio Greater Anglia to TfL Rail
Stage 1 May 2017 New Class 345 trains brought into service; Liverpool Street (main line station) to Shenfield services rebranded as Crossrail
Stage 2 May 2018 Existing services between Paddington (main line station) and Heathrow Terminal 4 transferred from Heathrow Connect to Crossrail, as well as shuttle services between Heathrow Central and Heathrow Terminal 4 transferred from Heathrow Express to Crossrail
Stage 3 December 2018 Services between Paddington (Crossrail station) and Abbey Wood begin; route rebranded as Elizabeth line
Stage 4 May 2019 Services between Paddington (Crossrail station) and Shenfield via Liverpool Street (Crossrail station) begin; limited services retained between Liverpool Street (main line station) and Gidea Park
Stage 5 December 2019 Full route opens, linking Abbey Wood and Shenfield to Heathrow Airport via Paddington, and existing services between Reading and Paddington transferred to Crossrail and extended to Abbey Wood and Shenfield

Between Shenfield and Liverpool Street once the Crossrail brand has been introduced there will be at least 12 trains per hour at peak times and eight per hour during off-peak times.[10][11]

Rolling stock

TfL Rail operations commenced with the existing fleet of Class 315 rolling stock. These units will be replaced by 66 new Class 345 trains built by the Canadian firm Bombardier Transportation.[12][13]

 Class  Image Type  Top speed   Number   Routes operated   Built   Years in operation 
 mph   km/h 
Class 315 EMU 75 120 44 Liverpool Street to Shenfield 1980–81 2015–present
Class 345 Aventra EMU 90 145 66 Reading and Heathrow Airport to Abbey Wood and Shenfield 2015–18 From May 2017

The Class 315 trains will continue to be maintained at the existing Ilford depot.

The Class 345 fleet will be maintained at a new depot at Old Oak Common.[12]

References

External links

Preceded by
Abellio Greater Anglia
Greater Anglia franchise
31 May 2015
Operated by MTR Crossrail
2015 – 2023
Incumbent
Preceded by
Great Western Railway
Greater Western franchise
Preceded by
Heathrow Connect
Heathrow Airport Holdings & Great Western Railway
from May 2018
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