Heathrow Express

**Heathrow Express** is an airport rail link between London Heathrow Airport and London Paddington. It is an open-access operator, having been formed in 1998 and is operated by Heathrow Express Operating Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heathrow Airport Holdings. The operator employs 160 staff, who work both in the airport terminals and on board the trains.

## History

Heathrow Express was planned as a joint venture between BAA and British Rail, but was taken over fully by the former following the privatisation of British Rail. Construction began in 1993. The principal works were two 5-mile single-bore tunnels (including eight escape shafts) and underground stations at Heathrow Central and Terminal 4. Electrification of the Great Western Main Line (GWML) between Paddington and Airport Junction, where the new line diverged from the GWML, was also required. A flying junction known as *Stockley Flyover* was constructed to connect the tunnel to the GWML fast lines. Beginning in January 1998, an interim service called Heathrow FastTrain ran to a temporary station called Heathrow Junction, where a coach took passengers the rest of the way. The full service began on 23 June 1998, with four trains per hour running in each direction, operated using Class 332 EMUs built by Siemens Mobility.

From 1999 to 2003, a check-in service was provided at Paddington, allowing Heathrow Express passengers to check in and drop off their luggage prior to flights, which was similar to the service currently provided on Hong Kong Airport Express. Checked baggage was transported to the airport by using the luggage space at the westbound first carriage. This service was withdrawn due to low usage and high cost of operation.

In June 2005, Heathrow Express began jointly providing a new Heathrow Connect service, which saw a new twice-hourly stopping service on the same route between Paddington and Heathrow using Class 360 EMUs from the Siemens Desiro family. Heathrow Airport Holdings had provided the on-board staff through Heathrow Express as part of the contract. This continued until May 2018, which saw Heathrow Connect absorbed into TfL Rail ahead of the new Crossrail project, which will see Crossrail fully operate to Heathrow Airport through this takeover when it opens.

In March 2018, it was announced that Great Western Railway would takeover management of Heathrow Express in August 2018 as part of a new management contract. However, Heathrow Express later on announced that Heathrow Airport Holdings will continue to own the rail link until at least 2028 with GWR instead managing the introduction of the new Class 387 fleet to replace the current Class 332 fleet.

## Rolling stock

### More fleet

In May 2020, a fleet of twelve Class 387 from the Bombardier Electrostar family will replace the Class 332 fleet. While Heathrow Airport Holdings will continue to operate Heathrow Express with the new fleet, Great Western Railway will be providing and maintaining it. The trains will feature USB power sockets, extra luggage space, work tables, on-board WiFi and HD TVs. A new Business First cabin will also be included in a 2+1 configuration with reclining seats.

### Past fleet

Until May 2018, Heathrow Express leased a singular Class 360 unit which operated the shuttle service between Heathrow Central and Heathrow Terminal 4.