Posted 12th February 2016 | 11 Comments

Heathrow Crossrail levy plan sparks clash with DfT

A PLAN to charge Transport for London for running Crossrail trains into Heathrow Airport has been provisionally rejected by the Office of Rail and Road, and its stance is being supported by the Department for Transport.

The operators of Heathrow own the stretch of track from Heathrow Airport Junction on the Great Western Main Line to the airport terminal stations, the first of which were built by the airport's former owners BAA so that Heathrow Express services could start in 1998.

Heathrow Express has since provided a frequent service charging premium fares, although a parallel stopping service, Heathrow Connect, was later added and charges lower fares.

Heathrow Airport Limited has proposed that each Crossrail train should pay a levy or toll, reported to be around £600, for the use of its 8.6km of track and stations serving the airport, and the annual bill for Crossrail manager Transport for London would be in the region of £40 million. But Crossrail is intended to provide integrated access to the airport without a premium fare, as the Piccadilly Line has always done.

The ORR has now launched an industry consultation, saying: "The focus of this consultation is not whether HAL can charge users for access to the Heathrow Spur, but whether it can charge them for one specific type of cost – the historical costs of constructing the Heathrow Spur itself.

"This decision hinges on the interpretation of a piece of EU-derived law which says that charges for such construction costs can only be levied on train operators if the project could not have gone ahead without them. It is the interpretation of 'could not have gone ahead' which is crucial in this case.

"What makes this case unusual is that it is being applied to a project that is already built and was indeed built before the relevant law came into force."

Meanwhile, the Department for Transport said: "Crossrail will have a transformational effect, bringing better and faster journeys for passengers across London and beyond from 2018, boosting jobs and economic growth.

“We therefore welcome the Office of Rail and Road’s provisional decision to rule out Heathrow’s proposed infrastructure recovery charge, which means the best deal for Crossrail passengers and taxpayers.”

The ORR consultation runs until 10 March.

Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • Colin Redman, Nuneaton

    @David Cook....
    charges for buses to use a new bus station at Hinckley, Leics, are to be charged. It is already happening, as is charges to use drop-off zones at airports - East Midlands and Birmingham being prime examples.

    In fact, in the case of the latter, it is security concerns that have paved the way for this and airport operators must be laughing.

  • claydon william, Norwich, Norfolk

    [BR proposed various airport services from Victoria via Feltham, but after many years of discussion it was decided (by government) in the 1970s to give priority to LT's Piccadilly Line extension from Hounslow West. BR did not have a free hand -- anything but.--Editor.]
    =========================================================
    @ editor.......

    agree with your comments.

    Having worked on the railway and at Heathrow and used its services frequently as a rail and air passenger; lets just say that given the status of LHR as a world aviation hub; the provision of connecting rail services over the decades has been woeful, and it seems it will continue to be so for decades to come.

    Which is a shame, because with a bit of imagination, rail connectivity to/from LHR could be improved no end with 5 cheap development schmes...

    1. Feltham Station could be renamed 'LHR South', with connecting Terminal buses.
    2. Iver Station could be renamed 'LHR North' with connecting Terminal buses
    3. Newcastle-Reading 'Arriva X-C' services could be reinstated to LGW via Iver, KO, CJ and E.Croydon
    4. Electrification of the short 1km section of track between Acton and Willesden, would allow electric rail services from LHR to gain access to the WCML and quickly serve MK, BHX, Birmingham, MAN and Manchester
    5. SWT Southampton-SOU-Waterloo 'semi-fast' services could be run via Feltham/ 'LHR South'

    ......all fairly easily achieveable and cost effective schemes.......

  • claydon william, Norwich, Norfolk

    @ Robert Palmer, Norwich

    Oh the joys and expense of privatisation! How much money has been wasted on lawyers fees just on this spat so far? And how much did HAL contribute to the new flyovers at Stockley?
    ==========================================================

    .......and just remind us exactly how many trains served Heathrow Airport every day under the joys of the 'British Rail' era.......

    [BR proposed various airport services from Victoria via Feltham, but after many years of discussion it was decided (by government) in the 1970s to give priority to LT's Piccadilly Line extension from Hounslow West. BR did not have a free hand -- anything but.--Editor.]

  • Roshan, Leeds

    How ridiculous. Crossrail going in to Heathrow will only benefit it, so why on Earth would they think of charging them?

  • Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex

    This proposal sets an interesting precedent which could lead to TFL have to pay to use Canary Wharf and Woolwich Stations Crossrail Stations which involve private funding as well as Northen Line extension which I believe also includes private funding.

    As for Heathrow it's likely that once Crossrail becomes fully operational the future of HEX from the remote Paddington Station looks less and less likely especially as all Crossrail Stations will be fully accessible makes GN it easier for passengers with luggage to use Crossrail together with increasing number of accessible tube stations some of which have step free interchange to Crossrail .

    it Heathrow plans this then it will raise questions over the Western Accessible to Heathrow scheme which could also attract a charge which might make it unviable in investment terms ?

  • Riddy, London

    If Heathrow cannot charge Crossrail 2 to use its tracks, how on earth will it maintain them? Will DfT pick up the maintenance and development costs for the line or annexe it?
    [A good question, but strictly it is not Crossrail 2, but Crossrail. (Crossrail 2 is a proposed route running across London approximately south west to north east.) There seems to be nothing in the present documentation which rules out an access charge based on maintenance costs, if they are met by HAL. It is the historical basis aspect which is causing the debate.--Editor.]

  • Lutz, London

    It's not the principle of paying for access that is being challenged, rather it is an arguement over the final level of charges.

    I hope Heathrow makes teh same approach if it is forced to pay towards the new road access to the site as well.

    [The current 'argument' is whether a charge is justifiable if it is to be based on the historical costs of building the extension from the GWML in the later 1990s, which were paid by the airport operator of the time, BAA Ltd. I recommend a glance at the ORR consultation document (linked from the story) for the legal detail.--Editor.]

  • Robert Palmer, Norwich

    Oh the joys and expense of privatisation! How much money has been wasted on lawyers fees just on this spat so far? And how much did HAL contribute to the new flyovers at Stockley?

  • Anonymous Widower, Dalston, London

    Heathrow needs Crossrail, especially as when the Thameslink upgrade is finished, Gatwick will have twenty trains an hour to and from London.

    Also in 2019, Gatwick can start planning their second runway and I doubt Heathrow will ever get its third, as no London Mayor will allow it.

    Heathrow is in a corner and it's just being spiteful.

  • Jim Campbell, Birmingham

    Can't comment on level of charge but Surely the principle is no different to operators paying Network Rail to use main rail network.

  • David Cook, Broadstone, Dorset

    It beggars belief. It's like paying to drop off passengers in your car at airports, presumably to encourage people to use public transport instead. I suppose these money grabbing scruple free sharks will charge buses to use bus stops next. And some people still think that railway companies are rip off merchants......they could learn quite a few devious little tricks from the airline industry, perhaps the air industry could open a scrooge school for wannabe misers.... and turn a tidy profit on that!