Heathrow Spur access

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This page contains information on access and licensing on the Heathrow Spur.

The Heathrow Spur was built by Heathrow Airport Limited, with construction beginning in 1993 and the link opening in 1998. The Heathrow Spur is an 8.6km stretch of railway infrastructure linking Heathrow Airport to the Great Western Main Line and Paddington to provide rail services to Heathrow airport directly from London. Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) manages the Heathrow Spur infrastructure.

This page contains information on access and licensing on the Heathrow Spur, the HAL Network Code, and the HAL Network Statement.

Operator access to the Heathrow Spur

The Heathrow Spur is exempt from the access and licensing regimes of the Railways Act 1993 through The Railways (Heathrow Express) (Exemptions) Order 1994

Appeals

ORR is the regulatory body to which appeal relating to access to the Heathrow Spur may be made in accordance with the Railways (Access, Management and Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2016. Details of appeals relating to the Heathrow Spur can be found on our appeals webpage. 

The HAL Network Code

The HAL Network Code is a common set of rules and industry procedures that apply to all parties who have a contractual right of access to the HAL infrastructure owned and operated by HAL as infrastructure manager.

HAL manages and maintains the Network Code, and all related documentation. The full HAL Network Code can be found on the HAL website.

Safety responsibilities, for example through safety certificates and safety authorisations, and Railway Group Standards, take priority over the HAL Network Code obligations.

Appeal under Part M of the Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) Network Code about HAL/TTP003

ORR Determination under Regulation 32 – 20 January 2022
HAL/TTP003 Determination
Heathrow Express Operating Company Limited – Notice of Appeal – 5 November 2021
Heathrow Airport Limited – representations – 5 November 2021
MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited – Respondent’s Notice to Heathrow Express Operating Company Limited’s Notice of Appeal – 19 November 2021
MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited – Respondent’s Notice to Heathrow Airport Limited’s representations – 19 November 2021
ORR letter - request for further representations – 19 November 2021
Heathrow Express Operating Company Limited – further representations – 26 November 2021
Heathrow Airport Limited – further representations – 26 November 2021
MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited – further representations – 26 November 2021
ORR letter - decision to hear the appeal under Regulation 32 – 3 December 2021

Network licence

HAL is exempt from licensing through The Railways (Heathrow Express) (Exemptions) Order 1994.

Network Statement

Network statements need to be produced in accordance with The Railway (Access, Management and Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2016. 

Network statements present all the information that potential applicants for network access need to know in order to request capacity on other networks. Each network statement should provide, for the infrastructure concerned, a single source of up-to-date and relevant information. It must include information on access to, and the charges for, the supply of service facilities.

The latest HAL Network Statement is available on the HAL website, and further information on our reviews of HAL’s Network Statement can be found on our Network Statements webpage.