HEATHROW EXPRESS FLEET GROUNDED

摘要

Heathrow express's fleet of Class 332 EMUs was temporarily withdrawn from service in early March after a structural defect was found on the underside of one of the trains. The issue was discovered as part of a routine inspection on 28 February and is understood to relate to the failure of the bracket for an anti-roll bar on a driving vehicle of unit No 332014.The entire fleet was subsequently withdrawn as a precautionary measure, with the five Class 360/2 EMUs normally used on the Heathrow Connect service transferred to the Express. Connect services were suspended, although Great Western Railway, which jointly runs the Connect service with the airport, instituted an hourly shuttle service between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington to serve the intermediate stations on the Great Western main line.