TfL Rail was the concession which operated commuter services on two separate railway lines in London, England and its environs whilst the Crossrail construction project linking these lines was underway. It ran from 2015 until May 2022, upon the opening of the Crossrail central section, when TfL Rail was rebranded as Elizabeth line and the name was discontinued.
TfL Rail was introduced on 31 May 2015 when it took control from Abellio Greater Anglia of the commuter "metro" service between in central London and in Essex. The branch comprised the first 14 stations on the Great Eastern Main Line, with interchange at Shenfield for medium- and long-distance services beyond to East Anglia. TfL Rail had also taken over operation of some services from to Heathrow Airport and Reading. Services were operated by MTR Crossrail under contract to Transport for London (TfL). Between May 2016 and May 2017, TfL Rail carried over 47 million passengers on the Shenfield branch.
History In June 2013, TfL announced that Arriva, MTR Corporation, Keolis / Go-Ahead Group and National Express had been shortlisted to bid for the concession to operate Crossrail, which was under construction.TfL announces shortlist of bidders to run Crossrail services Crossrail 25 June 2013Crossrail shortlist reveals four contenders Rail News 25 June 2013
In July 2014, TfL awarded the contract to Hong Kong's MTR, for a duration of eight years with an option to extend by an additional two years.TfL announces MTR to run Crossrail services Crossrail 18 July 2014MTR Corporation wins £1.4 billion contract to run Crossrail services Rail Technology Magazine 18 July 2014
MTR Crossrail was created as a new train operating company and took control of the "metro" service between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield from the previous operator, Abellio Greater Anglia, on 31 May 2015. The existing trains were re-painted in TfL Rail livery, and appropriate branding, advertising and message boards were added at the 14 stations along the line. Every station was staffed, from the first train to the last of the day. In June 2017, Class 345 trains began running between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield.
In May 2018, TfL Rail took over operation of the Heathrow Connect service between London Paddington and Heathrow, as well as some GWR services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington. In December 2019, TfL Rail took over operation of the Great Western Railway stopping services between London Paddington and Reading. In November 2019, Class 345 trains began running between London Paddington and Reading, as a soft launch of the service. In July 2020, Class 345 trains began running between London Paddington and Heathrow.
The two branches became part of the Elizabeth line when the central section opened on 24 May 2022, with the current branches connecting up with the core later.
Route The eastern branch of TfL Rail ran over the existing of track on the Great Eastern Main Line between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield. The western branches operated over part of the Great Western Main Line and the Heathrow tunnel between London Paddington and Heathrow for , and entirely over the Great Western Main Line between London Paddington and Reading for . Stations + Stations served or managed by TfL Rail Station Image Dates Location Opened Managed from Served from Zone Local authority 30 March 1840 Managed by Network Rail 15 December 2019 N/A Reading 1 July 1839 Managed by Great Western Railway Wokingham 1 November 1871 Windsor and Maidenhead 1 September 1872 May 2018 Buckinghamshire 1 July 1899 Slough 8 September 1884 Managed by Great Western Railway 1845 May 2018 1 December 1924 Buckinghamshire 4 June 1838 6 Hillingdon 27 March 2008 Managed by Heathrow Express Diversions only 23 June 1998 May 2018 Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 1864 or 1868 May 2018 5 1 May 1839 4 Ealing 1 December 1838 4 June 1838 3 1 December 1838 1 February 1868 4 June 1838 Managed by Network Rail 1 City of Westminster Sections disconnected 2 October 1874 Managed by Network Rail 31 May 2015 1 City of London 20 June 1839 31 May 2015 2/3 Newham 6 January 1873 3 1840 6 January 1873 3/4 20 June 1839 4 Redbridge 1 March 1899 8 February 1901 11 January 1864 5 20 June 1839 6 Havering 1 December 1910 1 December 1868 1 July 1840 9 Brentwood 29 March 1843 Managed by Greater Anglia C Sections disconnected 30 July 1849 23 October 2017 not served until Elizabeth line opened 4 Bexley
Former services Shenfield branch
TfL Rail took over operations from Abellio Greater Anglia on 31 May 2015. TfL Rail subsequently introduced a fleet of new trains.Crossrail rolling stock and depot contract to be awarded to Bombardier Department for Transport 6 February 2014Bombardier wins Crossrail train contract Railway Gazette 6 February 2014 On 22 June 2017, Class 345 trains entered passenger service on the Shenfield branch.
The Class 315 trains continued to be maintained at the existing Ilford depot, with the Class 345 trains maintained at both Old Oak Common and Ilford depots.
Heathrow branch TfL Rail inherited five units from Heathrow Connect when it took over operations on 20 May 2018. These trains were used to operate the existing half-hourly (2tph) service to Heathrow. On 30 July 2020, Class 345 trains entered passenger service on the Heathrow branch. The last Class 360 trains were withdrawn in September 2020.
Reading branch On 26 September 2019, TfL Rail announced that it would take over the Paddington to Reading stopping services on 15 December 2019, using Class 345 trains in place of the Class 387 and Class 165 trains used by Great Western Railway. Before that, on 25 November 2019 six GWR services a day started to operate using Class 345 trains, operated by TfL, to get drivers ready and stock in place for the main 15 December switch over.
Route tables Prior to the opening of the Elizabeth line on 24 May 2022, the timetabled weekday off-peak service pattern consisted of: Shenfield branch Route Calling at Stock to 8 Reading and Heathrow branches Route Calling at Stock London Paddington to 2 345 London Paddington to Hayes & Harlington 2 London Paddington to 2
Rolling stock Fleet carried over to the Elizabeth line ClassImageType Top speed Carriages Number Routes operated Built Years in operation mph km/h Class 315EMU75120420 – 1980–19811980–2022Class 345 AventraEMU901457 or 970 Liverpool Street – Shenfield Paddington – Reading Paddington – Heathrow Airport2015–2019June 2017–present
Past fleet Former units operated by TfL Rail include: ClassImageType Top speed Carriages Number Routes operated Built Withdrawn mph km/h Class 360 DesiroEMU10016055London Paddington – Heathrow Terminal 4 (Heathrow Connect)2004–20052020
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