Heathrow Express

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.

Related Topics:
Train - Heathrow Airport - Paddington - London - BAA - National Rail

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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).

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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.

Related Topics:
23 June - 1998

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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.

Related Topics:
As of 2005 - £ - Concorde - Birmingham - Birmingham International Airport - London Underground - Piccadilly Line

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