Although Express and Connect are presented as separate operations they are joined behing the scenes.

There is a significant diversion of revenue from the Express to the Connect from those, not necessarily just overseas visitors, who cannot understand the difference, and just buy a ticket to Paddington and get on the next train that comes in and says Paddington on the indicator. An accounting adjustment is made in the back office based on the averages for this happening.

A joined up public transport system ? It's actually going the wrong way.