Heathrow Express vs Elizabeth Line: Which is Best?

[@johnswanson2600]

This is actually an extremely important PSA right here.

[@Travelog]

Thanks, know it's not my usual, and actually stemmed from a debate with my coworkers who also flew into Heathrow. Of course I had do re-do the audio since they started thru-running trains (I was there before they did).

[@johnswanson2600]

@@Travelog That's always how it seems to work out. It seems anything Heathrow involved is trying to be a tourist trap so any way to get around it is good information

[@annabelholland]

While the Central and Jubilee lines are quite old, they are actually made in 1992 and 1996 respectively. The Bakerloo and Picadilly lines are the oldest on the underground, made in 1972 and 1973 respective, but new trains for the Picadilly are underway (due 2025) with the Bakerloo and Central coming next.

[@vanessawyndham8791]

My preference is the Elizabeth Line. It's roomy and gets you to Central London for a much more reasonable price than the Heathrow Express.

[@ianmcclavin]

Absolutely true. Only one drawback, the Elizabeth Line trains do not have any on board toilets, whereas the Heathrow Expresses do. Given the short journey time on the latter, you'd think it would make more sense for it to be the other way round.

[@ryanfilms9867]

I also agree with your preference on the Elizabeth Line than the tube's Piccadilly line. Because it is faster and also there are air conditioning inside the trains while the Piccadilly line does not have any at this time. But my actual preference generally is the Heathrow Express, as it is the fastest train option at only 15 to 20 minutes and that it wouldn't stop at any unnecessary stops between paddington and Heathrow airport. It also has different types of classes where you can choose to seat next to someone else, or seat alone. I also feel that the Heathrow Express is the easiest train service to understand. It's just a shuttle express back and font between Heathrow airport and Paddington station. But in terms of convenience and the price, the Elizabeth Line may be better, as it serves more stations in London, and the price is relatively lower so it's more affordable. The Heathrow express terminates at Paddington, while the the Elizabeth Line terminates at Abbey Woods or Shenfield which is just outside of London, as well as Reading on the west end of the line, also outside of London. I also think the Elizabeth line you can just walk-in while Heathrow express you may have to book online in advance.

[@CallumAtwal]

As a Londoner, the first 40 seconds I’ve already noticed issues. - the tube you showed isn’t the Piccadilly line - you could always get a train into Heathrow. It was called the Heathrow Connect before they (FirstGroup) did a deal with TfL To allow them to service it with these new trains (as TfL rail first)

[@Travelog]

Correct. I was on a work trip and only had video of the central line. It’s just me, not a film crew here. But it’s a similar old train with no AC and the point stands. Good point about the Heathrow Connect, but I was under the impression that it got rolled into the Elizabeth line? I did live in London once, but it was 2009-2010 and a lot has changed obviously.

[@vulc1]

@@Travelog You are correct that the Heathrow Connect got absorbed into Elizabeth Line, but the point is that you didn't mention the Connect in 0:24: "Until recently the only other option was the Heathrow Express".

[@geoffstrowger9759]

This is already out of date insofar as on the Elizabeth Line you no longer have to change at Paddington to travel further into Central London AND Bond St station is now open. In fact, back in November I travelled to Heathrow from East Finchley (on the Northern Line) changing at Tottenham Ct Road.

[@Travelog]

Indeed, I had to re-do the audio after I had filmed and edited it originally. I cover the through trains and say that the change at Padington now only applies to early morning trains. You’re right I neglected Bond st.

[@dovidell]

last month , I used the "Lizzy line" to get from Terminal 4 LHR to Liverpool street , MONEY WELL SPENT , BUT the line is deep at some locations , so if you have heavy cases and kids , PLEASE use the lifts ( elevators to you Americans) because the incline on the escalators is very steep up to ground level ( at Liverpool street )

[@mudchute4dlr]

‘Theres the good old Piccadilly line’ cuts to a shot of the district line

[@Lee_303]

I think the best option is the coach. Some of them go round the terminals to pick up but some of them only serve terminal 3 main bus station. But you are on street level there, put your heavy luggage in the hold & get out in Central London. It runs non-stop along the M4 which ends in Hammersmith & the last bit into Victoria is very short. The only niggle with Victoria Coach Station is it's a 10 minute walk from the train station / tube. Though there is an entrance on Buckingham Palace Road (the walking route to the trains) on the side of Victoria train station, which is handy if you're traveling to the south coast (Brighton, etc) as the platforms are right there. You'll need to walk a little further through the station to the front to get to the tube & bus station. Oh & on Buckingham Palace Road there are other express buses going to places like, Oxford (though you can also get express buses to Oxford direct from Heathrow).

[@clivejohnson6468]

Elizabeth line gets you to an array of London destinations, West End, City (Liverpool St), Canary Wharf, Docklands, all without changing at Paddington since November 2022.

[@jacobrocks7]

Just took the Elizabeth line from Heathrow to paddington and it was great …much better than the tube and cheaper than the Express line

[@TimothyEBaldwin]

In current Monday to Saturday timetable, the Elizabeth Line from Terminal 4 arrives into Paddington the same time as the following Heathrow Express, on Sundays it arrives into Paddington the same as time as the following Heathrow Express departs Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3. Also the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow isn't 10 to 15 minutes slower than Heathrow Express + Elizabeth Line. From Terminals 2 & 3 is from Paddington Interchange Time + 15 minutes on Sunday faster to 15 minutes - Paddington Interchange Time slower. Other Terminals are more complicated, from Terminal 4 Elizabeth Line + Heathrow Express + Elizabeth Line is slower than Elizabeth Line, but Piccadilly Line + Heathrow Express + Elizabeth Line can be faster. From Terminal 5 changing from Heathrow Express to Elizabeth Line at Terminals 2 & 3 is a sensible option.

[@RandomVideosFirst]

as someone that frequently Travels to and from Heathrow , you can save as much as £10 if you book well in advance for a Heathrow express , but id defo advise using the Elizabeth line which is cheaper and better value.

[@davidsantiagobravo1160]

Very Helpful thank you.

[@jensastrup1940]

Very useful! Thank you

[@Andrewjg_89]

I probably would say Heathrow Express before they are more direct and the Class 387/1a are very nice trains.

[@itsyacko]

Thanks for the video. Quick question, i heard that Heathrow express is free for kids under 15 yrs. So if i travel with my kid, which one is cheaper for a return?

[@Travelog]

Good point, I believe the tube is free for under 10 not 15. At the gate it would then be a full adult fare. I think if you get an oyster card you could load it with an 11-15 child fare for a discount, but I defer to local Londoners on this.

[@fsdkonjab]

@@Travelog no you can also get 11-15 child fare on a visitor oyster card. you just go to the underground station (for example Paddington) and then you tell someone that you are going to be staying in london for some days and then he loads the card with discounted fare that expires the day you are leaving

[@XteamMAB]

Ok quick answer: Heathrow express: if your in the rush to get to the airport or business and don’t mind paying 25 pounds Elizabeth line/cross rail: if your with a family or going from central London (not Paddington) direct but cheaper Underground: very cheap but very slow good if you are on the underground Uber/black cab good if your rich and don’t like trains Coach/bus good if you live nearby Airport transfer (van) good for a big family or want to go without getting germs

[@fennyyong5861]

Hotel book at king cross St Pancras should I choose Piccadilly line with 25 stops or Heathrow express and change line?

[@al-anoud-123]

Hi, will be travelling from Liverpool to Euston and would like to go to Heathrow terminal 4 .. what is the best way please with luggage and 5 year old kid? Also do you know if booking via Trainline would cover the cost if either using Heathrow express/Elizabeth line? Many thanks

[@ameerali.ouarda]

The timetable change in May is going to cut services to 24mins.

[@doughunt9621]

There is a big issue with air conditioning on London tube trains. All of the system in central London is in small tunnels with poor ventilation, and the temperature in the tunnels and ststions is increasing year on year. Fitting air-con to the trains may possibly help the comfort of passengers whilst on the train, but due to the way is works the heat removed from the trains is just pumped out into the tunnels, mking the heat build-up worse.

[@Travelog]

Indeed, I used to commute on the Central Line. It was really rough in the summer.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

During busy times the Elisabeth and Picadilly Lines can get very busy.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Indeed. That's the advanage of HEX when travelling into Central London during the morning peak. BBC showed a video recently with Liz Line getting packed with commuters who joined at the West London suburbs.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

@@alexmcwhirter6611 Yes. There also need to be plan b's for when there are problems out of Paddington.

[@anuraagbasak2989]

How can we go to London Euston from Heathrow airport?

[@Travelog]

Personally I’d take the train to Paddington then the tube. There are some stairs though.

[@WestLondonTransport]

“There’s the good old Piccadilly line” *SHOWS THE DISTRICT LINE*

[@Travelog]

Yep well I was only there for a day…still the carriage is the same and the point stands

[@WestLondonTransport]

@@Travelog The District Line uses the S7 stock carriages and the Piccadilly line uses 1973 stock carriages and they are very different with the outside and inside

[@jessmccall6548]

How do we get the 5.50 fares?? Cheapest I can find is 15 pounds and we are more than 90 days out from our travel dates.

[@Travelog]

Yep, seems to be 15 pounds now. Damn you inflation!

[@thethaanngsss]

Your phrasing it as if the Elizabeth line is part of the tube it’s not. It’s it’s own separate railway line ran by TfL.

[@Travelog]

That’s true, but as a tourist touching my credit card or oyster it’s effectively the same. Just as a tourist won’t care if it’s the Tokyo metro or Toei.

[@TimothyEBaldwin]

@@Travelog Contactless/Oyster is available for on all serious passenger trains in London. It is a high-frequency cross-London service like the Tube and Thameslink. Since Elizabeth Line is a National Rail service, National Rail tickets are accepted, information is published via National Rail routes.

[@kyliemiu]

If you have a Railcard already, then you can use it on the Heathrow Express, not the Elizabeth Line

[@DNDREBORN]

“Piccadilly Line” shows S-Stock 😂

[@Travelog]

Well to be fair the last time I tried to take the Piccadilly line in from Heathrow the tube was on strike…hence the lack of footage.

[@danielspencer6174]

Heathrow express needs to go beyond Heathrow Airport from tunnel from terminal 5 to weighbridge one branch to Windsor & Eton it should be quicker than South west train for same prices to from London?

[@ashikoommen3213]

£5.50 single ticket on Heathrow Express is only if you book 6 months in advance. And even then you cant be sure if the trains will run or not owing to engineering works and strikes. So the £5.50 price really is not very practical! £25 for an extra 15 mins is not worth it either.

[@rugbydazz2264]

I love it when Americans come here and critique our mode of transport from LHR into central London, have you seen theirs, let's start with JFK and discuss it's non existence.

[@Travelog]

Oh for sure, don't get my started. Chicago has the blue line, but especially recently it's impossible to avoid the homeless and human waste. It's a real shame. Not sure what you mean by Americans critiquing your transit. This video came from a conversation with my coworkers on a trip to London. One took a cab, the other the Heathrow express. I argued the Elizabeth line was better. Hence the video. It's meant as a travel aid, nothing more.

[@rugbydazz2264]

@@Travelog I was listening yo a guy just yesterday raging about thd lack of transit to JFK and it turns out the airport doesn't want to give you the option of mass transit into JFK because of the revenue they make from you parking your cars, they make billions of dollars from just the parking.

[@itstimefor...9492]

The trains are so much better then the ones in New York

[@Travelog]

Indeed, I recently flew to LGA and the bus/subway connection is quite awkward.

[@charlesjay8818]

America doesn't do trains very well let alone any kind of public transport. They are conditioned to drive or fly. Amtrak's Acela claims to reach 150mph over a 49 mile stretch, but in reality it's much slower overall

[@heyitsgeorge]

Thx I think ill get elizabeth cuz its cheaper

[@Itsmeh939]

Or just go on the piccadilly line

[@Travelog]

True, but the last time I tried that Tfl was on strike 😂

[@MattBuildsBlocks]

Bro Was Wrong The Taxi From Heathrow Is £57.00

[@Travelog]

Guessing you didn't hit traffic. I was on a business trip, and that's what a coworker paid.

[@rachelmartin2967]

Rachel Martin Puddton stiom tickets

[@paulramon3353]

better not best