Heathrow Express
From Freepedia
| Image:Heathrow express logo.gif | |
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| Image:Heathrow Express 332 008.jpg | |
| Franchise: | Heathrow Express |
| Main Route(s): | Heathrow Airport - London Paddington |
| Other Route(s): | None |
| Fleet size: | 14 |
| Stations: | 3 (2 operated) |
| Parent company: | BAA plc |
| Website: | www.heathrowexpress.com |
Heathrow Express is a train service from Heathrow Airport to Paddington in central London operated by the Heathrow Express Operating Authority - a wholly-owned subsidiary of BAA. The service is not part of the National Rail system, despite part of its journey sharing track with National Rail trains and terminating at a London mainline station.
It operates from approximately 0500 until 2400, with trains every 15 minutes. There are two stops at Heathrow: Terminals 1,2,3 (journey time from Paddington approximately 15 minutes), and Terminal 4 (journey time approximately 22 minutes).
It opened on 23 June 1998 and has modern trains that include televisions and the ability to use mobile phones throughout the journey - even when in tunnels. The televisions are mostly used to play advertising at the captive passengers.
The service has been generally well received, not least because steps were taken to reduce the environmental impact of the train line. Measures included disguising ventilation shafts as barns. The service has received some criticism, however, mainly due to its cost. As of 2005, it costs around £14 for a single journey in standard class and around £23 for first class. Per kilometre, the journey is more expensive than travelling on Concorde services. Comparable airport trains in the UK and the rest of Europe charge a small fraction of the Heathrow Express fare; the train from Birmingham to Birmingham International Airport costs £2.60, while the London Underground's Piccadilly Line service from central London to Heathrow Airport costs less than £4.
Other transport options from Heathrow to Central London
- The London Underground's Piccadilly Line runs from Heathrow to central London. A single cash ticket costs £3.80. If purchased with an Oyster Card the fare is £2 before 6:30am, after 7:00pm and all weekend and £3.50 at other times. Journey time approx. 45-60 mins.
- Taxi, using the M4 motorway. Typical cost £40-60; typical journey time 30-90 mins, depending on destination.
- Coach, operated by National Express. Typical cost £6; journey time 60-75 mins.
- Bus, operated by London Buses. Although no London Bus goes directly to central London during the day, the N9 night bus (0030 - 0530) goes direct to Trafalgar Square from Heathrow Central Bus Station. Cost £1.20; journey time 65 mins.
- Heathrow Connect serves local stations from London Paddington to Hayes and Harlington and then Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3. Free transfer on Heathrow Express is provided to Heathrow Terminal 4. Tickets are not easily available for the journey on Heathrow Connect from Paddington to Heathrow (taking 25-30 minutes) as BAA would prefer passengers to use the pricier and quicker Express. At £6 for the three mile journey, the service between Hayes and Heathrow is more expensive per mile than the Express and even Concorde.
External links
See also
| British train operating companies | |
|---|---|
| InterCity: | Eurostar - First Great Western - First TransPennine Express - GNER - Hull Trains - Midland Mainline - one - Virgin Trains |
| London & South East: | c2c - Chiltern Railways - First Great Western Link - Gatwick Express - Heathrow Express - Island Line one - Silverlink - South Eastern Trains - South West Trains - Southern - Thameslink - WAGN |
| Regional: | Arriva Trains Wales - Central Trains - First ScotRail - Merseyrail - Northern Rail - Wessex Trains |
