Heathrow Connect rolling stock has been commandeered by the more expensive and exclusive Heathrow Express services, as the trains which usually provide this service have safety issues. Whilst this petition does not suggest that unsafe trains should be used, it does raise the issue that the Heathrow Connect service has effectively been cancelled in favour of Heathrow Express.

Heathrow Connect provides trains from Heathrow to a Paddington calling at local stations. By cancelling this service Heathrow Express (the operator of both Heathrow Connect and Heathrow Express) have cut off a major transport artery in West London.

The inconvenience to thousands of passengers appears to pass by the operators of Heathrow Express, as they seek to maintain the more expensive (and less community-orientated) service. The replacement service is half as often and 40% of the size (overall 80% reduction) and this resource has been "borrowed" from the Greenford to Paddington line, which means that these passengers also have a knock-on effect of a reduced service themselves.

It appears strange that at a time when Heathrow is looking to garner local support for a 3rd runway (and noise pollution), they are disregarding local public opinion on this matter.

The 7:57 Heathrow Connect train from Heathrow to Paddington was last year highlighted as the 4th busiest train journey in the UK (Dept of Transport). The cancellation of Heathrow Connect means that all these commuters have to travel by other means, which puts a strain on other methods of transport.

The aim of this petition is to demonstrate the strength and depth of feeling on this issue to Heathrow Express, and ask them to provide a resolution as soon as possible. Why can't passengers to/from Heathrow use the Heathrow Connect service, and stop at the 5 stations enroute? Why can't the trains be split between the services? Why is communication of timelines so poor? Is there going to be a commitment that Heathrow Connect will not be demoted again like this if a similar situation were to occur?