Editing Heathrow Express (section)

==History==
===Background===
Heathrow Airport, the main [[international airport]] serving [[London]], was connected to the [[London Underground]] network in the late 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 1977 |title=1977: Queen opens 'tube' link to Heathrow |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/16/newsid_2560000/2560019.stm |access-date=11 January 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref> However the journey to central London on the [[Piccadilly line]] takes around 40 to 50 minutes, the same time as a [[Hackney carriage|black taxi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=By rail or train {{!}} Heathrow |url=https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-rail-or-train |access-date=11 January 2024 |publisher=Heathrow Airport |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the early 1980s, the quality of public transport to the airport was criticised at [[Public inquiries in the United Kingdom|public inquiries]] regarding expansion of the airport, with the inspector noting that "a direct and dedicated ... rail link should be provided".<ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction= Parliament of the United Kingdom |title=Heathrow Express Railway Bill |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1989-02-28/debates/07453fa0-dff1-4587-8d91-e2a8b5f30fc3/HeathrowExpressRailwayBillHl |house=House of Lords |date=28 February 1989 |column=1007 |speaker= Lord Jenkin of Roding |quote=The lack of a surface rail link to Heathrow was sharply criticised at the airports inquiries held between 1981 and 1983. The inspector, Mr. Graham Eyre, reported that, "a direct and dedicated BRB rail link should be provided in any event" |language=en-GB}}</ref>

During 1986, the Heathrow Surface Access Study recommended a non-stop [[airport rail link]] between London and Heathrow Airport.<ref name="Green-2014a">{{Cite book |last=Green |first=Chris |title=The Network SouthEast Story |last2=Vincent |first2=Mike |publisher=Oxford Publishing Co |year=2014 |pages=101|isbn=978-0860936534}}</ref> In July 1988, Secretary of State for Transport [[Paul Channon]] approved a joint venture between the [[British Airports Authority]] (BAA) and [[British Rail]] to work on the project, with an opening date of 1993.<ref name="Green-2014a" /><ref name="Railway Technology">{{Cite web |title=Heathrow Express |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/heathrow-express/ |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=Railway Technology |language=en-US |quote=The original £350m project originated in 1993 as a joint venture between BAA and British Railways Board}}</ref><ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction= Parliament of the United Kingdom |title=Heathrow Express Railway Bill |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1989-02-28/debates/07453fa0-dff1-4587-8d91-e2a8b5f30fc3/HeathrowExpressRailwayBillHl |house=House of Lords |date=28 February 1989 |column=1007 |speaker= Lord Jenkin of Roding |quote=my right honourable friend Mr. Paul Channon in July 1988 when he approved in principle British Rail's participation in a joint venture with BAA and invited them to work up detailed proposals. That has now been done and a joint venture has been concluded. |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In November 1988, a Parliamentary bill was introduced, seeking approval to build the project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1988 |url=https://www.nsers.org/1988.html |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=Network SouthEast Railway Society |language=en-GB |quote=November 1988 - Bill introduced in Parliament; the project will be jointly funded by British Airports Authority and NSE}}</ref> The Heathrow Express Railway Act received [[royal assent]] in May 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 May 1991 |title=Heathrow Express Railway Act 1991 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1991/7/enacted |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=legislation.gov.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> In March 1993, government expenditure for the project was approved in the [[March 1993 United Kingdom budget|spring budget]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1993 |url=https://www.nsers.org/1993.html |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=Network SouthEast Railway Society |language=en |quote=16 March 1993 - Heathrow Express given go-ahead with expenditure authorised in Government Budget Day statement.}}</ref> BAA would fund 80% of the cost, with British Rail contributing 20%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 |url=https://www.nsers.org/1990.html |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=Network SouthEast Railway Society |language=en-GB |quote=the £235m cost will be funded by NSE (20%) and British Airports Authority (80%)}}</ref> In August 1993, British Rail and BAA signed the contract to build the line, with an opening date of December 1997.<ref name="Green-2014a"/> Following the [[privatisation of British Rail]] from November 1993, the project was taken over by BAA in 1996.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=25 July 1996 |title=BAA takes total control of Heathrow Express |magazine=[[Rail Business Intelligence|Rail Privatisation News]] |page=3 |issue=35}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Green |first=Chris |title=The Network SouthEast Story |last2=Vincent |first2=Mike |publisher=Oxford Publishing Co |year=2014 |pages=224 |isbn=978-0860936534}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 1996 |title=BAA buys Heathrow rail link |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/baa-buys-heathrow-rail-link-1330080.html |access-date=12 January 2024 |work=The Independent |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Construction===
Construction began in 1993, with an estimated cost of £350 million.<ref name="Railway Technology" /> The principal works were two {{Convert|6.8|km|mi|abbr=in}} single-bore tunnels (including eight escape shafts) and underground stations at {{rws|Heathrow Central}} and [[Heathrow Terminal 4 railway station|Terminal 4]]. [[Railway electrification|Electrification]] of the [[Great Western Main Line]] (GWML) between Paddington and Airport Junction, where the new line diverged from the GWML, was also required to achieve a 15-minute journey time.<ref name="Green-2014a" /> A [[flying junction]] known as the Stockley Flyover was constructed to connect the tunnel to the GWML fast lines. As part of the construction of the project, steps were taken to reduce the environmental and visual impact of the railway, including disguising ventilation shafts as barns.<ref name="BBC News-1998">{{cite news |date=23 June 1998 |title=Heathrow Express takes off |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/118180.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220201437/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/118180.stm |archive-date=20 December 2020 |access-date=6 August 2016 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In October 1994, a tunnel collapse occurred during construction that led to the [[subsidence]] of a surface building and three large surface craters.<ref name="Harper-2000">{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Keith |last2= |first2= |date=6 July 2000 |title=Managers 'overlooked risk' in airport tunnel collapse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/jul/06/keithharper |access-date=11 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Keith |date=16 February 1999 |title=Balfour Beatty fined £1.2m for airport tunnel collapse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/feb/16/keithharper.balfourbeattybusiness |access-date=11 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The investigation into the collapse led to a six-month delay in opening and additional costs of around £150 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peracha |first=Qasim |date=13 February 2022 |title=A tunnel collapse at Heathrow nearly ruined the airport and a Tube line |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/nostalgia/how-heathrow-airport-tunnel-collapsed-17579206 |access-date=27 August 2022 |website=MyLondon |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Harper-2000" />

=== Opening ===
Beginning in January 1998, an interim service called Heathrow FastTrain ran to a temporary station called [[Heathrow Junction railway station|Heathrow Junction]], where a coach took passengers the rest of the way.<ref>{{Cite news |title = New Heathrow Service From Central London |newspaper = [[New York Times]] |date = 22 February 1998 |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9C06EFDC163FF931A15751C0A96E958260 |archive-date = 12 December 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201212013406/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/22/travel/travel-advisory-new-heathrow-service-from-central-london.html |url-status = live |language = en-GB}}</ref> Full service between London Paddington, Heathrow Central and Terminal 4 opened on 23 June 1998, with an opening by Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]].<ref name="BBC News-1998" /> The Heathrow Express brand, as well as staff uniforms, train design and station architecture were designed by [[Wolff Olins]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 May 1996 |title=Wolff Olins rolls out its Heathrow Express plan |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/23-may-1996/wolff-olins-rolls-out-its-heathrow-express-plan/ |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=designweek.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Heathrow Express - Robert Wood |url=https://robertwoodstudio.com/Heathrow-Express |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=robertwoodstudio.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

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|Hong Kong's]] [[Airport Express (MTR)|Airport Express]]. Checked baggage was transported to the airport by using the luggage space in the westbound first carriage. This service was withdrawn due to low usage and high cost of operation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2003/jul/07/1 |title=BAA's Paddington check-in faces axe |first=Andrew |last=Clark |date=7 July 2003 |work=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2018 |archive-date=21 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121184409/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2003/jul/07/1 |url-status=live |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Today's Railways UK]] |date=March 1998 |title=Heathrow Express Starts Public Service |first=Peter |last=Fox |pages=27–29 |publisher=Platform 5 Publishing Limited |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In the late 1990s, BAA proposed an extension of the line to [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras]], proposing use of the [[Dudding Hill line]] to access the [[Midland Main Line]] to access St Pancras.<ref name="Harper-1999" /> [[Railtrack]] proposed a stopping service from Heathrow to St Pancras, by using [[London Underground]] tracks.<ref name="Harper-1999">{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Keith |date=13 September 1999 |title=Threat to Heathrow Express extension |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/1999/sep/13/2 |access-date=12 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This was part of Railtrack's bid to win the [[public-private partnership]] (PPP) contract to upgrade and maintain the sub-surface lines of the Underground.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Keith |date=16 June 1999 |title=Prescott rolls out rail-tube link offer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/1999/jun/16/5 |access-date=12 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="Harper-1999" /> Neither proposal took place, following Railtrack's financial issues in the early 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 October 2001 |title=Railtrack goes bankrupt with debts of £3.3bn |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/railtrack-goes-bankrupt-with-debts-of-acircpound33bn-630604.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312220300/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/railtrack-goes-bankrupt-with-debts-of-acircpound33bn-630604.html |archive-date=12 March 2011 |work=The Independent |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In March 2008, the service was extended to the [[Heathrow Terminal 5 station]] with the opening of the new [[Heathrow Terminal 5|Terminal 5]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2008 |title=Heathrow Terminal 5 opens |url=https://www.lurs.org.uk/documents/pdf%2008/may/heathrow%20terminal%205%20opens.pdf |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=London Underground Railway Society}}</ref> In 2010, a dedicated shuttle between Heathrow Central and Terminal 4 was introduced, timed to connect with the main Heathrow Express service to/from Terminal 5 to improve connections between the terminals.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 June 2010 |title=UK News in Brief |url=http://railwayherald.com/magazine/download/228 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211171558/http://railwayherald.com/magazine/download/228 |archive-date=11 December 2013 |access-date=26 December 2013 |work=Railway Herald |location=Scunthorpe, UK |page=6}}</ref>

During 2009, flight information display screens were introduced at London Paddington.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facts & Figures {{!}} Statistics on our service {{!}} Heathrow Express |url=https://www.heathrowexpress.com/about-us/facts-figures#/ |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=heathrowexpress.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2017, Heathrow Express announced that over 100 million passengers had used the service since opening in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swinnerton |first=Lois |date=3 July 2017 |title=Heathrow Express celebrates 100 millionth passenger with exhibition |url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/heathrow-express-celebrates-100-millionth-13261610 |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=My London |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In March 2018, the Department for Transport and Heathrow Airport Holdings announced that the contract allowing Heathrow Express to operate had been extended to 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=27 March 2018 |title=Heathrow Express service confirmed to 2028 |url=https://mediacentre.heathrow.com/pressrelease/detail/9298 |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=mediacentre.heathrow.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> During August 2018, [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] (GWR) took over the operation of Heathrow Express as part of a new management contract.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/gwr-to-manage-heathrow-express-service/46205.article |title=GWR to manage Heathrow Express service |magazine=Railway Gazette International |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603162618/https://www.railwaygazette.com/gwr-to-manage-heathrow-express-service/46205.article |url-status=live}}</ref> Heathrow Airport continues to be responsible for commercial aspects of the service, including marketing, ticket pricing and revenue management, while GWR are now responsible for operations.<ref name="heathrowexpress.com">{{Cite web |url=https://www.heathrowexpress.com/news/2019/09/10/heathrow-express-service-confirmed-to-at-least-2028/ |title=Heathrow Express service confirmed to at least 2028 |website=heathrowexpress.com |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-date=6 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206190521/https://www.heathrowexpress.com/news/2019/09/10/heathrow-express-service-confirmed-to-at-least-2028/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=28 March 2018 |title=GWR to manage Heathrow Express operations |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/gwr-to-manage-heathrow-express-services/ |access-date=1 January 2021 |magazine=International Railway Journal |archive-date=13 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113100939/https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/gwr-to-manage-heathrow-express-services/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2020, new trains were introduced, replacing the trains used since the service began in 1998.<ref name="Heathrow Express" />

=== Heathrow Connect to Elizabeth line ===
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 {{brc|360}} EMUs from the [[Siemens Desiro]] family. Heathrow Airport Holdings had provided the on-board staff through Heathrow Express as part of the contract.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/heathrow-connect-close-to-takeoff.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624163616/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/heathrow-connect-close-to-takeoff.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 June 2019 |title=Heathrow Connect close to takeoff |magazine=Railway Gazette |date=24 June 2019 |access-date=9 March 2020 }}</ref> This continued until May 2018, when Heathrow Connect was absorbed into [[TfL Rail]] ahead of the new [[Crossrail]] project.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2018/may/tfl-to-operate-heathrow-connect-services-ahead-of-elizabeth-line-opening |title=TfL to operate Heathrow Connect services ahead of Elizabeth line opening |website=Transport for London |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217170053/https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2018/may/tfl-to-operate-heathrow-connect-services-ahead-of-elizabeth-line-opening |url-status=live |language=en-GB}}</ref> In May 2022, TfL Rail services were rebranded as the [[Elizabeth line]], with through trains running through central London from November 2022.<ref name="Caswell-2022">{{Cite web |last=Caswell |first=Mark |date=26 August 2022 |title=Elizabeth Line to offer direct services from Heathrow to central London from November |url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2022/08/26/elizabeth-line-to-offer-direct-services-from-heathrow-to-central-london-from-november/ |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=Business Traveller |language=en-GB}}</ref> Heathrow Express services will continue to terminate at London Paddington.<ref name="Caswell-2022" />