TfL Rail is the concession operating two separate railway lines in London and its environs whilst the planned link-up between these lines is being constructed. This will form part of the Crossrail service when it opens in 2021. At that time, the TfL Rail name will be retired and the services will become operated by Crossrail, with the route named the Elizabeth line. The Elizabeth line was initially due to open in December 2018. 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 comprises 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 has also taken over operation of some services from to Heathrow Airport and Reading. Services are operated by MTR Corporation under contract to Transport for London. 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. 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. MTR Corporation Ltd was created as a new train operating company and took control of the "metro" service between 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 is staffed, from the first train to the last of the day. In May 2018 TfL Rail took over operation of the Heathrow Connect service between Paddington and Heathrow, as well as some GWR services between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington. In November 2019, Class 345 trains began running between Paddington and Reading. In July 2020, Class 345 trains began running between Paddington and Heathrow. The line will be renamed the Elizabeth line when the central section opens, with the current branches connecting up with the core later.
Route
The eastern branch of TfL Rail runs over the existing of track on the Great Eastern Main Line between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. The future Elizabeth line route will retain the use of most of this track, except the portion between Liverpool Street and, where trains will use new tunnels to connect to the central section of the route. The western branches operate over part of the Great Western Main Line and the Heathrow tunnel between Paddington and Heathrow for, and entirely over the Great Western Main Line between Paddington and Reading for. The future Elizabeth line route will retain the use of most of this track, except the portion between Paddington and, where trains will use new tunnels to connect to the central section of the route.
Stations
Services
As of May 2020, the timetabled Monday–Saturday off-peak service pattern is :
Rolling stock
Shenfield branch
The eastern branch of TfL Rail operates with a fleet of new trains. The Class 315 trains will continue to be maintained at the existing Ilford depot, but the Class 345 trains will be maintained at 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 will be used to operate the existing half-hourly service to Heathrow. On 30 July 2020, Class 345 trains entered passenger service on the Heathrow branch.
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.
