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Heathrow Express/TfL rail suspended [28 Oct 2018, now resolved]

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Heathrow Express/TfL rail suspended [28 Oct 2018, now resolved]

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Old Oct 28, 2018, 6:18 am
  #1  
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Heathrow Express/TfL rail suspended [28 Oct 2018, now resolved]

Due to overhead line wire problems all lines into Heathrow from Paddington are blocked.

For those heading there alternative routes definitely advisable, could be a long period of disruption like last time.
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 7:34 am
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National Rail predicts this will last at least until the end of today: National Rail Enquiries - Service Alteration Details

No TFL Rail ("Connect"), HEX neither (the National Rail page doesn't actually say that the HEX is not running but that's implied).
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 7:39 am
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Is this due to the same new train testing issue as last time I wonder? Highly embarrassing if it is.
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 8:21 am
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Probably amongst the most expensive per-mile rail journeys in the world ....... yet seemingly one of the most troubled in terms of outages
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 8:37 am
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Originally Posted by subject2load
Probably amongst the most expensive per-mile rail journeys in the world ....... yet seemingly one of the most troubled in terms of outages
with the impending arrival of crossrail HEX have done some quite well priced advance fares since last year. You can book for as little as £5.50 for 90 day advance at the weekends.
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 8:41 am
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@ KARFA - wasn’t aware of that particular deal, thanks for the heads-up ^
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 8:50 am
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"Heathrow Express said it was sending a rescue service to take passengers on their way to Heathrow Airport back to Paddington where a care team will be waiting to transfer them onto buses to complete their journey."

Surely just taking them to Heathrow would be more useful?

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-46003096
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 9:02 am
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Train disruptions in the UK? Shocking
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 9:05 am
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Originally Posted by adrianlondon
"Heathrow Express said it was sending a rescue service to take passengers on their way to Heathrow Airport back to Paddington where a care team will be waiting to transfer them onto buses to complete their journey."

Surely just taking them to Heathrow would be more useful?

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-46003096
The route is likely blocked beyond where the stopped train is. They could go back to an intermediate station and transfer to buses there. But there wouldn’t be HEX staff there, so they presumably think better to get back to base and help passengers from there.

This surely will end up with these passengers being a couple of hours late at Heathrow. Assuming carriers are reaccomodating passengers this must be starting to get quite annoying for the airlines and I expect they will want HAL to put pressure on to Network Rail.
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 10:13 am
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Originally Posted by lcylocal
The route is likely blocked beyond where the stopped train is. They could go back to an intermediate station and transfer to buses there. But there wouldn’t be HEX staff there, so they presumably think better to get back to base and help passengers from there.
I assumed that whatever bus picked these people up from a broken down train could simply keep driving in the direction the train was going rather than u-turn them back to Paddington only to swap onto another bus (which will then drive back past the train near enough).

However, it seems that the "rescue service" is another train, in which case your reply makes sense.
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 10:27 am
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Having been caught out twice with HEX problems after going into London when I've had long layovers at LHR I no longer bother. Trying to get back in the rush hour on the Tube is no fun.
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 10:37 am
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Originally Posted by adrianlondon
"Heathrow Express said it was sending a rescue service to take passengers on their way to Heathrow Airport back to Paddington where a care team will be waiting to transfer them onto buses to complete their journey."
It's not as if anyone has planes to catch. Why not just reverse to the closest intermediate station (Hanwell, etc.), have a bunch of buses meet them, and get them to LHR much more quickly?
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 11:23 am
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https://twitter.com/gearyjen/status/1056539172998144002?s=19

Not much fun walking on track/ballast, let alone with luggage!
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 11:31 am
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Originally Posted by BearX220
It's not as if anyone has planes to catch. Why not just reverse to the closest intermediate station (Hanwell, etc.), have a bunch of buses meet them, and get them to LHR much more quickly?
because if there is a problem with the overhead POWER lines they turn the POWER off so the train can't move
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Old Oct 28, 2018, 11:47 am
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Originally Posted by UKtravelbear
because if there is a problem with the overhead POWER lines they turn the POWER off so the train can't move
When I used to travel on the WCML, there was a diesel loco permanently parked at Rugby (aptly called Thunderbird). It was used for precisely the task of hauling failed electric locos out of the way.
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