Originally Posted by
davidjohnson6
Once Crossrail opens, Southend will find itself competing with Heathrow. Maybe residents of the far east of Essex will find Southend the obvious compellung choice, but people living in east London or west Essex will find a new credible option available to them
The benefit of Crossrail to folk in Essex isn’t huge and is overstated. You still need to get to Stratford or Liverpool St and change; you’d be crazy to get on in Shenfield as mainline trains will shoot past while you stop at every station.
Yes if you’re on the mainline and its branches such as Southend Victoria the journey to Heathrow will become quicker, but not so much so that Heathrow becomes any more desirable compared to local options than it is now. If you’re on the west Anglia line the benefit of Crossrail is even less.