From Newsgroup: uk.railway

From The Times:

Profits for the Heathrow Express, BritainrCOs most expensive train service, have nearly halved since the start of the pandemic as passengers switch to
the cheaper Elizabeth Line.

The latest filings show that last year the Heathrow Express, owned and
operated by Heathrow Airport, made profits of -u38 million from revenues of -u93 million, carrying 4.5 million passengers. Profits were down by more
than 7 per cent from 2024.

The fall is more pronounced when compared with the routerCOs performance
before Covid-19 took hold. Then its annual profit was -u72 million and it
had revenues of up to -u127 million a year.

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus.

At -u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about -u2 a mile or -u1.75 a minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more expensive. Heathrow Express has been regarded as a cash cow for the
airport.

The line has had competition from the budget airport-to-Paddington Heathrow Connect since 2005 but its finances have been holed by the Elizabeth Line, which opened in late 2022.

The Elizabeth Line charged -u13.90 for the same Heathrow-Paddington journey
but crucially passengers could pay the same fare and stay on the train to stations in the West End, the City and into Essex.

Elizabeth Line fares to Heathrow went up to -u15.50 at the weekend.

Heathrow Express is also thought to have been affected by there being fewer business passengers flying from Heathrow and businesses clamping down on
staff expenses.

Aoife Considine, the business lead of Heathrow Express, said the service remained popular with its users. rCLRidership on Heathrow Express rose last year, demonstrating its enduring popularity among travellers,rCY she said.

Heathrow officials privately admit that despite their brave face, it was inevitable that the Elizabeth Line would eat into Heathrow Express
passenger numbers.

There are plans to fight back with a rCLpremier-plusrCY product offering passengers a combined package of train and fast-track security at the
airport with access to a private lounge.




--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the >airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus.

At u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about u2 a mile or u1.75 a >minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more >expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the
price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink?
--
Roland Perry
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the
airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus.

At -u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about -u2 a mile or -u1.75 a >> minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more >> expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the
price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink?

Never mind nit picking the hyperbole. IrCOd be more likely to use the
railways to Heathrow if there was an equivalent ticket to the Eurostar LNE tickets that allowed me a relatively cheap ticket to get back to the sticks
and was flexible in time given the vagaries of airline arrival times. The
HeX fares pale into insignificance compared to a peak flexible EMR MML
ticket. The only time I use the train to/from the airport is as part of an Interrail ticket. (Which shows this sort of thing is entirely possible)

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

In message <10o3q1c$12l6p$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:50:20 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the >>> airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus.

At -u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about -u2 a mile or -u1.75 a >>> minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more >>> expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the
price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink?

Never mind nit picking the hyperbole. IrCOd be more likely to use the >railways to Heathrow if there was an equivalent ticket to the Eurostar LNE >tickets that allowed me a relatively cheap ticket to get back to the sticks >and was flexible in time given the vagaries of airline arrival times. The
HeX fares pale into insignificance compared to a peak flexible EMR MML >ticket. The only time I use the train to/from the airport is as part of an >Interrail ticket. (Which shows this sort of thing is entirely possible)

Most of my trips to/from Heathrow (which in general I only use a very
last resort) are via the Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross.

A friend I was talking to yesterday took a flight to Hong Kong a couple
of weeks ago, and journey planners said Crystal Palace area to Heathrow
via Lizzy Line would take 90 minutes.

Due to various inability to find their own arse with both hands *and* a
map* TfL managed to extend that to 3hrs, and they nearly missed their
flight.
--
Roland Perry
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3q1c$12l6p$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:50:20 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the >>>> airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus.

At -u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about -u2 a mile or -u1.75 a >>>> minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more >>>> expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the
price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink?

Never mind nit picking the hyperbole. IrCOd be more likely to use the
railways to Heathrow if there was an equivalent ticket to the Eurostar LNE >> tickets that allowed me a relatively cheap ticket to get back to the sticks >> and was flexible in time given the vagaries of airline arrival times. The
HeX fares pale into insignificance compared to a peak flexible EMR MML
ticket. The only time I use the train to/from the airport is as part of an >> Interrail ticket. (Which shows this sort of thing is entirely possible)

Most of my trips to/from Heathrow (which in general I only use a very
last resort) are via the Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross.

A friend I was talking to yesterday took a flight to Hong Kong a couple
of weeks ago, and journey planners said Crystal Palace area to Heathrow
via Lizzy Line would take 90 minutes.

Yes, the TfL Journey Planner suggests about 80 minutes, including changing times eg,

Depart Crystal Palace Rail Station at 12:17 via Windrush line to Canada
Water
Journey time: 21 min

Depart Canada Water at 12:41 via Jubilee line to Bond Street
Journey time: 13 min

Depart Bond Street at 13:02 via Elizabeth line to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3

Journey time: 27 min

Due to various inability to find their own arse with both hands *and* a
map* TfL managed to extend that to 3hrs, and they nearly missed their flight.

What went wrong? Whose fault?

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3q1c$12l6p$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:50:20 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the >>>>> airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus.

At -u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about -u2 a mile or -u1.75 a
minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more
expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the
price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink?

Never mind nit picking the hyperbole. IrCOd be more likely to use the
railways to Heathrow if there was an equivalent ticket to the Eurostar LNE >>> tickets that allowed me a relatively cheap ticket to get back to the sticks >>> and was flexible in time given the vagaries of airline arrival times. The >>> HeX fares pale into insignificance compared to a peak flexible EMR MML
ticket. The only time I use the train to/from the airport is as part of an >>> Interrail ticket. (Which shows this sort of thing is entirely possible)

Most of my trips to/from Heathrow (which in general I only use a very
last resort) are via the Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross.

A friend I was talking to yesterday took a flight to Hong Kong a couple
of weeks ago, and journey planners said Crystal Palace area to Heathrow
via Lizzy Line would take 90 minutes.

Yes, the TfL Journey Planner suggests about 80 minutes, including changing times eg,

Depart Crystal Palace Rail Station at 12:17 via Windrush line to Canada
Water
Journey time: 21 min

Depart Canada Water at 12:41 via Jubilee line to Bond Street
Journey time: 13 min

Depart Bond Street at 13:02 via Elizabeth line to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3

Journey time: 27 min

Due to various inability to find their own arse with both hands *and* a
map* TfL managed to extend that to 3hrs, and they nearly missed their
flight.

What went wrong? Whose fault?

I used the Liz from Heathrow to Farringdon for the first time last autumn.
It seemed painfully slow, not what I was expecting.

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

On Mon, 2 Mar 2026 14:24:08 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3q1c$12l6p$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:50:20 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar >>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the
airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus.

At -u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about -u2 a mile or -u1.75 a
minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more
expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the >>>>> price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink?

Never mind nit picking the hyperbole. IrCOd be more likely to use the
railways to Heathrow if there was an equivalent ticket to the Eurostar LNE >>>> tickets that allowed me a relatively cheap ticket to get back to the sticks
and was flexible in time given the vagaries of airline arrival times. The >>>> HeX fares pale into insignificance compared to a peak flexible EMR MML >>>> ticket. The only time I use the train to/from the airport is as part of an >>>> Interrail ticket. (Which shows this sort of thing is entirely possible) >>>

Most of my trips to/from Heathrow (which in general I only use a very
last resort) are via the Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross.

A friend I was talking to yesterday took a flight to Hong Kong a couple >>> of weeks ago, and journey planners said Crystal Palace area to Heathrow >>> via Lizzy Line would take 90 minutes.

Yes, the TfL Journey Planner suggests about 80 minutes, including changing >> times eg,

Depart Crystal Palace Rail Station at 12:17 via Windrush line to Canada
Water
Journey time: 21 min

Depart Canada Water at 12:41 via Jubilee line to Bond Street
Journey time: 13 min

Depart Bond Street at 13:02 via Elizabeth line to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 >>
Journey time: 27 min

Due to various inability to find their own arse with both hands *and* a >>> map* TfL managed to extend that to 3hrs, and they nearly missed their
flight.

What went wrong? Whose fault?

I used the Liz from Heathrow to Farringdon for the first time last autumn.
It seemed painfully slow, not what I was expecting.

About 40 minutes rCo much faster than any alternative, step-free and direct.

I think the Liz has a deliberately lax schedule, with longer-than-necessary dwell times and relatively low speed
running. They want to be punctual and reliable more than fast.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mon, 2 Mar 2026 14:24:08 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3q1c$12l6p$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:50:20 on Mon, 2 Mar >>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar >>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the
airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus.

At -u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about -u2 a mile or -u1.75 a
minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more
expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the >>>>>> price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink?

Never mind nit picking the hyperbole. IrCOd be more likely to use the >>>>> railways to Heathrow if there was an equivalent ticket to the Eurostar LNE
tickets that allowed me a relatively cheap ticket to get back to the sticks
and was flexible in time given the vagaries of airline arrival times. The >>>>> HeX fares pale into insignificance compared to a peak flexible EMR MML >>>>> ticket. The only time I use the train to/from the airport is as part of an
Interrail ticket. (Which shows this sort of thing is entirely possible) >>>>

Most of my trips to/from Heathrow (which in general I only use a very >>>> last resort) are via the Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross.

A friend I was talking to yesterday took a flight to Hong Kong a couple >>>> of weeks ago, and journey planners said Crystal Palace area to Heathrow >>>> via Lizzy Line would take 90 minutes.

Yes, the TfL Journey Planner suggests about 80 minutes, including changing >>> times eg,

Depart Crystal Palace Rail Station at 12:17 via Windrush line to Canada
Water
Journey time: 21 min

Depart Canada Water at 12:41 via Jubilee line to Bond Street
Journey time: 13 min

Depart Bond Street at 13:02 via Elizabeth line to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 >>>
Journey time: 27 min

Due to various inability to find their own arse with both hands *and* a >>>> map* TfL managed to extend that to 3hrs, and they nearly missed their >>>> flight.

What went wrong? Whose fault?

I used the Liz from Heathrow to Farringdon for the first time last autumn. >> It seemed painfully slow, not what I was expecting.

About 40 minutes rCo much faster than any alternative, step-free and direct.

I think the Liz has a deliberately lax schedule, with
longer-than-necessary dwell times and relatively low speed
running. They want to be punctual and reliable more than fast.

Yes, it was the low running speed in the above ground bits that surprised
me. More ambling along.

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

On Mon, 2 Mar 2026 15:22:56 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mon, 2 Mar 2026 14:24:08 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3q1c$12l6p$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:50:20 on Mon, 2 Mar >>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar >>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the
airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus. >>>>>>>>
At -u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about -u2 a mile or -u1.75 a
minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more
expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the >>>>>>> price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink?

Never mind nit picking the hyperbole. IrCOd be more likely to use the >>>>>> railways to Heathrow if there was an equivalent ticket to the Eurostar LNE
tickets that allowed me a relatively cheap ticket to get back to the sticks
and was flexible in time given the vagaries of airline arrival times. The
HeX fares pale into insignificance compared to a peak flexible EMR MML >>>>>> ticket. The only time I use the train to/from the airport is as part of an
Interrail ticket. (Which shows this sort of thing is entirely possible) >>>>>

Most of my trips to/from Heathrow (which in general I only use a very >>>>> last resort) are via the Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross.

A friend I was talking to yesterday took a flight to Hong Kong a couple >>>>> of weeks ago, and journey planners said Crystal Palace area to Heathrow >>>>> via Lizzy Line would take 90 minutes.

Yes, the TfL Journey Planner suggests about 80 minutes, including changing >>>> times eg,

Depart Crystal Palace Rail Station at 12:17 via Windrush line to Canada >>>> Water
Journey time: 21 min

Depart Canada Water at 12:41 via Jubilee line to Bond Street
Journey time: 13 min

Depart Bond Street at 13:02 via Elizabeth line to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3

Journey time: 27 min

Due to various inability to find their own arse with both hands *and* a >>>>> map* TfL managed to extend that to 3hrs, and they nearly missed their >>>>> flight.

What went wrong? Whose fault?

I used the Liz from Heathrow to Farringdon for the first time last autumn. >>> It seemed painfully slow, not what I was expecting.

About 40 minutes rCo much faster than any alternative, step-free and direct. >>
I think the Liz has a deliberately lax schedule, with
longer-than-necessary dwell times and relatively low speed
running. They want to be punctual and reliable more than fast.

Yes, it was the low running speed in the above ground bits that surprised
me. More ambling along.

I think LO has a very similar philosophy rCo relatively slow, but usually punctual.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

According to Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com>:

The Elizabeth Line charged -u13.90 for the same Heathrow-Paddington journey >but crucially passengers could pay the same fare and stay on the train to >stations in the West End, the City and into Essex.

Unless your destination is near Paddington, why would you take the HeX any more?

Liz into town may not be super fast, but it's still faster than HeX and a change to something else, with less luggage schlepping.
--
Regards,
John Levine, johnl@taugh.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies",
Please consider the environment before reading this e-mail. https://jl.ly
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> wrote:

According to Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com>:

The Elizabeth Line charged -u13.90 for the same Heathrow-Paddington journey >> but crucially passengers could pay the same fare and stay on the train to
stations in the West End, the City and into Essex.

Unless your destination is near Paddington, why would you take the HeX any more?

Liz into town may not be super fast, but it's still faster than HeX and a change to something else, with less luggage schlepping.

Heathrow used to have signage that strongly favoured HEx over Liz. ThatrCOs been improved lately, with both having equal prominence. Nevertheless, lots
of foreigners have heard of HEx, but not the Liz.

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

On Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:27:38 +0000, Recliner
<recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mon, 2 Mar 2026 15:22:56 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mon, 2 Mar 2026 14:24:08 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3q1c$12l6p$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:50:20 on Mon, 2 Mar >>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar >>>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the
airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus. >>>>>>>>>
At u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about u2 a mile or u1.75 a
minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more
expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the >>>>>>>> price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink? >>>>>>>

Never mind nit picking the hyperbole. IAd be more likely to use the >>>>>>> railways to Heathrow if there was an equivalent ticket to the Eurostar LNE
tickets that allowed me a relatively cheap ticket to get back to the sticks
and was flexible in time given the vagaries of airline arrival times. The
HeX fares pale into insignificance compared to a peak flexible EMR MML >>>>>>> ticket. The only time I use the train to/from the airport is as part of an
Interrail ticket. (Which shows this sort of thing is entirely possible) >>>>>>

Most of my trips to/from Heathrow (which in general I only use a very >>>>>> last resort) are via the Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross.

A friend I was talking to yesterday took a flight to Hong Kong a couple >>>>>> of weeks ago, and journey planners said Crystal Palace area to Heathrow >>>>>> via Lizzy Line would take 90 minutes.

Yes, the TfL Journey Planner suggests about 80 minutes, including changing
times eg,

Depart Crystal Palace Rail Station at 12:17 via Windrush line to Canada >>>>> Water
Journey time: 21 min

Depart Canada Water at 12:41 via Jubilee line to Bond Street
Journey time: 13 min

Depart Bond Street at 13:02 via Elizabeth line to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3

Journey time: 27 min

Due to various inability to find their own arse with both hands *and* a >>>>>> map* TfL managed to extend that to 3hrs, and they nearly missed their >>>>>> flight.

What went wrong? Whose fault?

I used the Liz from Heathrow to Farringdon for the first time last autumn. >>>> It seemed painfully slow, not what I was expecting.

About 40 minutes u much faster than any alternative, step-free and direct. >>>
I think the Liz has a deliberately lax schedule, with
longer-than-necessary dwell times and relatively low speed
running. They want to be punctual and reliable more than fast.

Yes, it was the low running speed in the above ground bits that surprised >>me. More ambling along.

I think LO has a very similar philosophy u relatively slow, but usually punctual.

The South London Line often seems very pedestrian compared with the DC
or West London lines.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mon, 2 Mar 2026 14:24:08 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

I used the Liz from Heathrow to Farringdon for the first time last autumn. >>> It seemed painfully slow, not what I was expecting.

About 40 minutes rCo much faster than any alternative, step-free and direct. >>
I think the Liz has a deliberately lax schedule, with
longer-than-necessary dwell times and relatively low speed
running. They want to be punctual and reliable more than fast.

Yes, it was the low running speed in the above ground bits that surprised
me. More ambling along.

I'm sure I've suggested before, both here and elsewhere, that HEx should
become part of the EL service - 4tph non-stop Heathrow to Paddington LL and then through the core torCa wherever. This would use four of the services
which currently terminate at Paddington every hour.

Two things: firstly, there would be no way to charge a higher fare (it
relies on a dedicated gate line at at least one end of the journey).

Secondly, the routes from the crossrail tunnels to the Main Lines are
currently either very likely to cause conflict and delay, or else a
convoluted route across the throat (again with conflict pretty much guaranteed). IMO there's opportunity to install a grade-separated
main-relief connection at Old Oak/Ladbroke Grove, but the opportunity to do this during the OOC HS2 station works is about to be missed, if not too
late already.



--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

According to Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com>:

I'm sure I've suggested before, both here and elsewhere, that HEx should >become part of the EL service - 4tph non-stop Heathrow to Paddington LL and >then through the core torCa wherever. This would use four of the services >which currently terminate at Paddington every hour.

That makes a great deal of sense for travellers but I gather that unwinding
the financial arrangements with BAA would be challenging.

But I see that the track access agreement ends in June 2028. Hmmn.
--
Regards,
John Levine, johnl@taugh.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies",
Please consider the environment before reading this e-mail. https://jl.ly
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com> wrote:

Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mon, 2 Mar 2026 14:24:08 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:

I used the Liz from Heathrow to Farringdon for the first time last autumn. >>>> It seemed painfully slow, not what I was expecting.

About 40 minutes rCo much faster than any alternative, step-free and direct.

I think the Liz has a deliberately lax schedule, with
longer-than-necessary dwell times and relatively low speed
running. They want to be punctual and reliable more than fast.

Yes, it was the low running speed in the above ground bits that surprised
me. More ambling along.

I'm sure I've suggested before, both here and elsewhere, that HEx should become part of the EL service - 4tph non-stop Heathrow to Paddington LL and then through the core torCa wherever. This would use four of the services which currently terminate at Paddington every hour.

Two things: firstly, there would be no way to charge a higher fare (it
relies on a dedicated gate line at at least one end of the journey).

Secondly, the routes from the crossrail tunnels to the Main Lines are currently either very likely to cause conflict and delay, or else a convoluted route across the throat (again with conflict pretty much guaranteed). IMO there's opportunity to install a grade-separated
main-relief connection at Old Oak/Ladbroke Grove, but the opportunity to do this during the OOC HS2 station works is about to be missed, if not too
late already.

I wonder if some additional Liz Heathrow trains could use the Reliefs, but with a limited stop service, perhaps stopping only at H&H, Ealing Broadway
and OOC? That could replace the HEx, leaving the Mains just for GWR.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> wrote:

According to Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com>:

I'm sure I've suggested before, both here and elsewhere, that HEx should
become part of the EL service - 4tph non-stop Heathrow to Paddington LL and >> then through the core torCa wherever. This would use four of the services
which currently terminate at Paddington every hour.

That makes a great deal of sense for travellers but I gather that unwinding the financial arrangements with BAA would be challenging.

But I see that the track access agreement ends in June 2028. Hmmn.

Yes, I assumed HEx would reach its natural end then.

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From Newsgroup: uk.railway

In message <10o4faj$17id$2@gal.iecc.com>, at 16:53:40 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> remarked:

According to Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com>:

The Elizabeth Line charged u13.90 for the same Heathrow-Paddington journey >>but crucially passengers could pay the same fare and stay on the train to >>stations in the West End, the City and into Essex.

Unless your destination is near Paddington, why would you take the HeX
any more?

Because there's a whole bunch of foreign visitors to the UK who have had
it drummed into them that Airport Expresses are a safer way to travel
than mixing with the chavs on a city's outer suburban commuter services.

And while the Elizabeth Line might look new and shiny to UK eyes, to
those travellers it's still a chav-infested outer suburban commuter
service.
--
Roland Perry
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From Newsgroup: uk.railway

In message <j5fpR.39$h61.34@fx09.ams1>, at 12:08:47 on Mon, 2 Mar 2026, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3q1c$12l6p$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:50:20 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o3k3p$10ibh$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:09:13 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:

Heathrow Express is the dedicated train service that shuttles between the >>>>> airport west of the capital and the London Paddington terminus.

At -u26 for a walk-up fare, the service costs about -u2 a mile or -u1.75 a
minute for a 15-minute journey. No trip on the railways of Britain is more
expensive.

Even ignoring such things as the Snowdon Mountain Railway, what's the
price per mile of a ticket from Blackfriars to City Thameslink?

Never mind nit picking the hyperbole. IrCOd be more likely to use the
railways to Heathrow if there was an equivalent ticket to the Eurostar LNE >>> tickets that allowed me a relatively cheap ticket to get back to the sticks >>> and was flexible in time given the vagaries of airline arrival times. The >>> HeX fares pale into insignificance compared to a peak flexible EMR MML
ticket. The only time I use the train to/from the airport is as part of an >>> Interrail ticket. (Which shows this sort of thing is entirely possible)

Most of my trips to/from Heathrow (which in general I only use a very
last resort) are via the Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross.

A friend I was talking to yesterday took a flight to Hong Kong a couple
of weeks ago, and journey planners said Crystal Palace area to Heathrow
via Lizzy Line would take 90 minutes.

Yes, the TfL Journey Planner suggests about 80 minutes, including changing >times eg,

Depart Crystal Palace Rail Station at 12:17 via Windrush line to Canada
Water
Journey time: 21 min

Depart Canada Water at 12:41 via Jubilee line to Bond Street
Journey time: 13 min

Depart Bond Street at 13:02 via Elizabeth line to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3

Journey time: 27 min

Due to various inability to find their own arse with both hands *and* a
map* TfL managed to extend that to 3hrs, and they nearly missed their
flight.

What went wrong? Whose fault?

A cascade of delays and cancellations, the final one being their Lizzy
train to Heathrow being re-routed to T4 when the flight was T5. So they
had to change at Central.
--
Roland Perry
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From Newsgroup: uk.railway

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

In message <10o4faj$17id$2@gal.iecc.com>, at 16:53:40 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> remarked:

According to Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com>:

The Elizabeth Line charged -u13.90 for the same Heathrow-Paddington journey >>> but crucially passengers could pay the same fare and stay on the train to >>> stations in the West End, the City and into Essex.

Unless your destination is near Paddington, why would you take the HeX
any more?

Because there's a whole bunch of foreign visitors to the UK who have had
it drummed into them that Airport Expresses are a safer way to travel
than mixing with the chavs on a city's outer suburban commuter services.

And while the Elizabeth Line might look new and shiny to UK eyes, to
those travellers it's still a chav-infested outer suburban commuter
service.

That does resonate with my one and only use of the EL from Heathrow. As a foreigner with little understanding of the London transport network, HeX
and then a black cab to hotel seems a rational choice. Especially as a lone female.

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