There was a time when the Heathrow Express held the title of “the most expensive train route in Britain”. For me, the fare was worth every penny. The service provided the key which opened the possibility of travelling from central London to Heathrow airport in a reasonable timescale, in comfort and without having to be accompanied. In other words, it provided the freedom to travel to the airport alone without having to pay a very large taxi bill.
Those who find the London Underground system a little too confined may find the Heathrow Express to be more manageable. The trains are composed of full sized rolling stock and the below-ground platforms at the Heathrow T5 end of the route are spacious, airy, well-lit and staffed at all times during operational hours. A few minutes after departure from the Terminal 5 platform, the train emerges from the tunnel and the experience for the remainder of the short run to Paddington is exactly the same as any other overground train journey.
Buying Tickets
Ticket machines for trains are located in Terminal 5’s land-side arrivals concourse. From there, it is a very short distance to both lifts and elevators in order to reach the train platforms.
Tickets can also be bought in advance from the Heathrow Express website. The earlier the booking, the greater the likelihood of reducing the cost of the ticket.
Ticket machines for journeys on the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth Line and also to obtain free tickets for transfers to Terminals 2, 3 and 4.
Getting to the platforms
Escalators take the passenger down to the lower level and train platforms. The escalators are situated within an open atrium and they are well sign-posted. From the escalators, is possible to see the movement of the elevators and there are often other passengers and staff in sight on the various levels.
The video below gives a view of the passenger’s journey from the arrivals concourse down to the train platforms. This route takes approximately two minutes.
There is also a bank of lifts which travel between the departures area on the uppermost level, down to the arrivals level and down again to the train platforms. There is no need to select which level you need, the elevators are automatically set to move between these three levels.
Passengers with hand luggage are at liberty to use either the elevators or escalators, whichever they prefer. However, as trolleys are not permitted on the escalators (and there are physical barriers to prevent this) a passenger with a larger amount of luggage would have to use the lifts.
The elevators are fairly spacious though at busy times they can be full. Anyone preferring to travel in a less crowded lift may need to wait a while for a crowd of passengers to disperse. The lifts are located in an open atrium and as the doors are glass, there is no time when the passenger feels completely enclosed without at least a glimpse of the outside.
On the train
The trains running on the Heathrow Express service are full-size, overground trains. Standard class and first class carriages are available and the train has onboard toilets.
The train carriage entry points are level with platforms both at Heathrow and at Paddington so you don’t need to step up (or down) to board the train and this makes for easier wheelchair access.
The following videos show the train interior in standard coaches:
The Journey
The journey from Heathrow Terminal Five to Heathrow Central Station is approximately 6 minutes. This station is also below ground level. Shortly after leaving Heathrow Central on a London-bound service, the train emerges from the tunnels and continues for the rest of the run to London outdoors. The travel time from Heathrow Central to Paddington Station is around 15 minutes.
At times, for technical or operational reasons a train will need to stop and wait before proceeding. Very occasionally this can occur while the train is still in the tunnel in the airport vicinity. In my experience, drivers keep passengers very well informed via the train’s announcement system.
The Sunflower Lanyard Scheme
This article could not be complete without at least a brief mention of a scheme which is designed to help people who have a health condition or a disability which may not be visible to onlookers. Wearing the lanyard indicates that you might, at times, need some assistance or perhaps just a little space or extra patience.
Both Heathrow Airport and Heathrow Express participate in this scheme, with their staff trained to look out for customers wearing the Sunflower Lanyard. Lanyards can be obtained from Heathrow Airport – and even requested in advance of a trip. For more information, visit:
heathrow.com and click on Help ➡︎ Accessibility and Mobility ➡︎ Hidden disabilities
This is an important and useful scheme and I think it merits a blog article in its own right.
In Summary
Heathrow Express runs a clean, comfortable and efficient rail service to Heathrow Airport from central London. Trains leave Paddington Station every 15 minutes from early morning to late evening and take just over 20 minutes to reach the final destination of Heathrow Terminal 5. All passengers travelling from London to Heathrow benefit from having this travel option. However, as a passenger who contends with both agoraphobia and claustrophobia, a train which runs above ground for much of the journey – and in airy and spacious areas even when underground – provides a safe and comfortable travel experience.
For Further Information
heathrowexpress.com
heathrow.com
hdsunflower.com
Photo Credits: All photos credited to A.P.
