London - Tube between town and Heathrow
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,358
London - Tube between town and Heathrow
I could not find anything about this issue by using the flyertalk search function.
My question relates to the City of London, U.K. Piccadilly Line to and from Heathrow Airport.
According to various news sources, there are "delays and disruptions" on the line because wheels need to be replaced and work needs to be done on numerous cars/trains damaged because of some past flooding.
I did several Internet searches hoping to learn when the repair work is estimated to be finished. However, there doesn't seem to be any completion estimate or answer in print.
Everything that shows up in a search merely warns of the delays - e.g.
http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/piccadilly-line
Does anyone have an idea of when the work is scheduled to be complete? Does anyone have an idea where I can find something in print concerning the completion date?
Thanks in advance.
My question relates to the City of London, U.K. Piccadilly Line to and from Heathrow Airport.
According to various news sources, there are "delays and disruptions" on the line because wheels need to be replaced and work needs to be done on numerous cars/trains damaged because of some past flooding.
I did several Internet searches hoping to learn when the repair work is estimated to be finished. However, there doesn't seem to be any completion estimate or answer in print.
Everything that shows up in a search merely warns of the delays - e.g.
http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/piccadilly-line
Does anyone have an idea of when the work is scheduled to be complete? Does anyone have an idea where I can find something in print concerning the completion date?
Thanks in advance.
#2
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,343
Does anyone have an idea of when the work is scheduled to be complete? Does anyone have an idea where I can find something in print concerning the completion date?
The official information sources are:
http://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/piccadill...lly-disruption
http://twitter.com/piccadillyline
These state that the work is expected to continue during this week.
In practice, the trains are mostly running normally, but with a reduced frequency. This is different from a problem with the tracks when the trains are unable to move at all and you will be stuck. When I travelled on the Piccadilly line yesterday, I had to wait 6 minutes instead of 2 minutes, and there were slightly more people in the train than would be usual for that time.
FYI, the City of London refers to an area of about 1 square mile in the centre of the city of London.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,520
The 'planned works calendar' at https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/pl...works-calendar) lists Dec.13 as first day with normal service, so they expect to have the wheels replaced by then.
Follow https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overgrou...lul-piccadilly for updates.
Follow https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overgrou...lul-piccadilly for updates.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
Allegedly leaves on the track ended up damaging wheels on many Piccadilly line trains. As a result, they cancelled the spur track to Uxbridge, and concentrated the trains they had on the Heathrow spur.
In reality, this means some delays, but won't affect you greatly. The trains are running at a reasonable rate, just the intervals between trains can be longer.
It's an absolute shambles, and TFL have a lot to explain!
In reality, this means some delays, but won't affect you greatly. The trains are running at a reasonable rate, just the intervals between trains can be longer.
It's an absolute shambles, and TFL have a lot to explain!
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,358
As this work was not scheduled, there is no planned completion date. It will be finished whenever the people working on the trains have replaced all the damaged wheels and find that all trains are safe to operate.
The official information sources are:
http://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/piccadill...lly-disruption
http://twitter.com/piccadillyline
These state that the work is expected to continue during this week.
In practice, the trains are mostly running normally, but with a reduced frequency. This is different from a problem with the tracks when the trains are unable to move at all and you will be stuck. When I travelled on the Piccadilly line yesterday, I had to wait 6 minutes instead of 2 minutes, and there were slightly more people in the train than would be usual for that time.
The official information sources are:
http://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/piccadill...lly-disruption
http://twitter.com/piccadillyline
These state that the work is expected to continue during this week.
In practice, the trains are mostly running normally, but with a reduced frequency. This is different from a problem with the tracks when the trains are unable to move at all and you will be stuck. When I travelled on the Piccadilly line yesterday, I had to wait 6 minutes instead of 2 minutes, and there were slightly more people in the train than would be usual for that time.
Thanks very much for the links -
In one of the links you provided was the answer to my question - it states "We expect the disruption to continue through next week."
That is what I was looking for. Thanks again.
Last edited by dgcpaphd; Dec 5, 2016 at 12:40 am Reason: spelling
#6
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,744
#8
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 1,546
I take the opposite opinion to Swanhunter. I find that the Piccadilly line is fine - in normal times. However, this disruption is serious, approximately half the train-sets are out of service, and my most recent trip to LHR was vile. Until this wheel issue is fixed, I would look at an alternative route. There's no way of knowing how long to fix as the engineers don't even understand yet why the problem has occurred: leaf fall happens every autumn but hasn't caused such an issue with wheel flats in previous years.
Where do you need to get to, street or postcode? Central London is too big to give generic advice, we need an actual final destination to give meaningful help.
Where do you need to get to, street or postcode? Central London is too big to give generic advice, we need an actual final destination to give meaningful help.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: London
Posts: 1,117
For anyone travelling to/from Heathrow over the festive period it's also worth bearing in mind that there will be no Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect rail services between the 24th and 29th December, and a half hourly Heathrow Express service between the 30th and the 2nd January (Heathrow Connect meanwhile will resume service on the 1st January).
Heathrow Connect / Heathrow Express - Christmas and New Year 2016/17 travel summary
The Piccadilly line however should be back to normal by then.
Heathrow Connect / Heathrow Express - Christmas and New Year 2016/17 travel summary
The Piccadilly line however should be back to normal by then.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
I just did this Monday. Had to wait about 15 minutes for a Pic train. Wasn't a huge deal.. give yourself an extra ~ 30 minutes and you should be fine.
I agree there is no good info posted about what to expect (quantifying "severe delays")
I agree there is no good info posted about what to expect (quantifying "severe delays")
#11
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
Timing is everything. A 15 minute wait for a normally 5 minute service off-peak is an inconvenience.
A 33% service in the peak hours, when the trains are already crush-loaded from Finsbury Park to Hammersmith at 100%, is a far more serious issue, given most of the stations in that section are deep level Tube stations, built over 100 years ago, for far smaller crowds.
Which means they end up having to close busy stations to prevent dangerous overcrowding. As this snowballs into overcrowding on other lines, it can also end up with key stations being shut at the busiest time of day as a result.
So find another route in peak hours!
A 33% service in the peak hours, when the trains are already crush-loaded from Finsbury Park to Hammersmith at 100%, is a far more serious issue, given most of the stations in that section are deep level Tube stations, built over 100 years ago, for far smaller crowds.
Which means they end up having to close busy stations to prevent dangerous overcrowding. As this snowballs into overcrowding on other lines, it can also end up with key stations being shut at the busiest time of day as a result.
So find another route in peak hours!
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,166
An excellent article from London Reconnections relating to the issues with the Piccadilly line.