Heathrow Express and Gatwick Express start 24 hour operations

[bigdelta 46]

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Heathrow Express has extended its service to a 24 hour operation on April 21st 2010 to ensure that passengers affected by the flight restrictions can make it to and from the airport.

 

Managing Director Richard Robinson said: “Now that flights are operating today we have increased our capacity by an additional 4000 seats to help our passengers during this difficult time. Our operational flexibility allows us to provide extra trains through the night. It is crucial that we run a regular service for people flying out from the UK as well as customers flying back into the UK, but we wanted to do more to ensure that we have the capacity for even larger volumes of passengers.”

 

Heathrow Express is running its usual 15 minute every 15 minutes service to and from Heathrow Airport, until 23:25 from Paddington Station and 23:42 from Heathrow Terminal 5. After these times, there will be a train departing every 45 minutes:

 

From Paddington Station:

 

Trains Terminal 5 depart at 00:30, 01:15, 2:00, 02:45, 03:30, 04:14 and 04:39.

 

From Heathrow Terminal 5:

 

Trains Paddington depart at 00:30, 01:15, 02:00, 02:45, 03:30, 04:10 and 04:41.

 

A normal Heathrow Express service will operate again from 05:10 from Paddington and 05:07 from Terminal 5.

 

Gatwick Express is running a 24 hour service to help clear the back log of passengers arriving at the airport having been delayed by the volcanic ash.

 

During the night, extra Gatwick Express trains will depart from Victoria every 30 minutes (01h35, 02h00, 02h35, 03h05 and 03h35). From Gatwick Airport Station, trains will also depart every 30 minutes (02h05, 02h35, 03h05, 03h35 and 04h05) with a 15 minute timetable starting again at 05h00.

 

Chris Burchell, Southern’s managing director, said: “We have been working closely with the airport to ensure there is a regular service for all passengers. As the only dedicated rail-air link between London and Gatwick Airport, we appreciate the difficulties air travellers have faced and we wanted to offer some extra trains to help passengers on their way. This extended timetable is likely to remain in force for the next few days.”

[jacko 8,815]

Will it still be £18 for the 15 minute journey or is there a special on the price too?

[Tom Kagai 0]

Excellent. The Brits can get home, no matter what time their flight is cancelled.

[marleyboy 140]

Will it still be £18 for the 15 minute journey or is there a special on the price too?

Im lucky?! As I work for the railways I get free travel (have to pay 25% of the Heathrow Express fare though!).

There is another service from Paddington to heathrow though? (cant remember the bloody name though!) I "presume" it will be cheaper than Heathrow Express though, as it stops at a few places ( Southall , for one). It does take a little bit longer about 25 minutes, but Id be very surprised if it isnt cheaper!

[marleyboy 140]

Just did a quick google! The company is called Heathrow connect! It looks like it costs £7.90 single. It doesnt run 24 hours though! It takes 26 minutes, so could be worth saving a tenner!

[Gawd Elpus 798]

Just did a quick google! The company is called Heathrow connect! It looks like it costs £7.90 single. It doesnt run 24 hours though! It takes 26 minutes, so could be worth saving a tenner!

 

 

Thats good to hear.

 

I found out last year, that I can get the x26 bus all the way to Heathrow from West Croydon (nearby) all for a one way Oyster fare of £1.20 and it takes Ihr and 20 minutes. A cab takes just over an hour and its about £50 these days.

 

But £7.90 by train for a twenty minute journey sounds excellent value to me.

[jacko 8,815]

Thats good to hear.

 

I found out last year, that I can get the x26 bus all the way to Heathrow from West Croydon (nearby) all for a one way Oyster fare of £1.20 and it takes Ihr and 20 minutes. A cab takes just over an hour and its about £50 these days.

 

But £7.90 by train for a twenty minute journey sounds excellent value to me.

Yes, not sure about the bus and traffic situations, but at £7.50 that train ride sounds fine...... saving a £10 for the sake of 10 minutes sounds sensible to me.

You mentioned £50 for a cab from West Croydon.... would that be going South to trhe M25 and round clockwise? Quite a chunk of change and we are spoiled with the £25 fare for the 120km Bangkok Airport to Pattaya.