Heathrow to Colchester

[Talent]

All,

what's the cheapest way to get from Heathrow airport to Colchester?

I thought I'd take the tube to London Liverpool Street or Stratford (£3.10 off peak) and then the train to Colchester. IMHO the train tickets are rather expensive as I can't take an advance ticket as my flight might be delayed.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

How about a Heathrow to London travel card for £13.50 and a £30.80 ticket from the zone 6 Boundary to Colchester?

I'm not very experienced in tickets though, but it's cheaper than one ticket to Colchester!

Maybe some dates and times would be helpful.

 

[jfollows]

I can't take an advance ticket as my flight might be delayed.

If saving money is your object, why not get an advance ticket for a suitably late time, and wait for the train if the flight is on time? Admittedly further than you, I've bought advance tickets London-Wilmslow for an inbound flight to London in the past, and then just taken my time when the flight was on time. If your flight is seriously late you might get compensation which would pay for a replacement rail ticket anyway.

 

[clagmonster]

All,

what's the cheapest way to get from Heathrow airport to Colchester?

I thought I'd take the tube to London Liverpool Street or Stratford (£3.10 off peak) and then the train to Colchester. IMHO the train tickets are rather expensive as I can't take an advance ticket as my flight might be delayed.

Would largely depend on approximate time and day of travel, any railcard held, will you be returning at all? If you provide that information I will have a look. I suspect that the answer will involve either Oyster and the Piccadilly line as you have identified yourself or a Travelcard and TfL Rail.

 

[hkstudent]

If saving money is your object, why not get an advance ticket for a suitably late time, and wait for the train if the flight is on time? Admittedly further than you, I've bought advance tickets London-Wilmslow for an inbound flight to London in the past, and then just taken my time when the flight was on time. If your flight is seriously late you might get compensation which would pay for a replacement rail ticket anyway.

Advance is always best if OP need to save the last penny, while giving up flexibility.
What I would suggest if for flexible ticket, it would be good for OP to use Oystecard / Contactless to Shenfield, which will cost 9.80 off-peak, and Anytime Single from Shenfield to Colchester is £15.20

 

[NorthOxonian]

Advance is always best if OP need to save the last penny, while giving up flexibility.
What I would suggest if for flexible ticket, it would be good for OP to use Oystecard / Contactless to Shenfield, which will cost 9.80 off-peak, and Anytime Single from Shenfield to Colchester is £15.20

A cheaper, but much slower option, would be to use Oyster/Contactless to Brentwood, and paper ticket from there. This would cost £5.80 + £15.40, but would involve more changes, including getting off at Brentwood and taking the next train.

 

[hkstudent]

A cheaper, but much slower option, would be to use Oyster/Contactless to Brentwood, and paper ticket from there. This would cost £5.80 + £15.40, but would involve more changes, including getting off at Brentwood and taking the next train.

Yeah, and Shenfield has fast train while Brentwood doesn't

 

[Talent]

If saving money is your object, why not get an advance ticket for a suitably late time, and wait for the train if the flight is on time?

I gave this a thought, but I don't like to wait an hour or so at LST. But I'll book an advance ticket if there's no other option.

Would largely depend on approximate time and day of travel, any railcard held, will you be returning at all? If you provide that information I will have a look. I suspect that the answer will involve either Oyster and the Piccadilly line as you have identified yourself or a Travelcard and TfL Rail.

Weekday off peak, no railcard, no return, Oyster PAYG

Advance is always best if OP need to save the last penny, while giving up flexibility.
What I would suggest if for flexible ticket, it would be good for OP to use Oystecard / Contactless to Shenfield, which will cost 9.80 off-peak, and Anytime Single from Shenfield to Colchester is £15.20

£25 sounds good. Especially as the journey planner suggests £56.80 (tbf it is a flexible ticket including Heathrow Express)

 

[jfollows]

I gave this a thought, but I don't like to wait an hour or so at LST. But I'll book an advance ticket if there's no other option.

Go and sit in the park if it's a nice day, or go shopping, or something. There are so many things you could do which would be better than sitting at Liverpool Street station (I assume this is what "LST" is).

https://www.fishmarket-restaurant.co.uk was good last time I was in the area. If nothing else, blow the money you save on a cheap rail ticket on a nice meal.

 

[Howardh]

Just checked National Express coaches, for about the same price as the quote in the OT they can get you from Heathrow to Colchester - via Standsted! There's nothing available with Easybus.

 

[vinnym70]

Definitely contactless/oyster to Shenfield (not Brentwood as that just complicates the journey, extra change, and slows it by relying on TfL Rail to go to Brentwood on an all-stopper) then paper ticket to Colchester from Shenfield.

 

[JBuchananGB]

I vote for the Oyster/Contactless option to Shenfield via Picadilly to Holborn, Central to Stratford, then any GA train to Shenfield. Get off there, tap out the card, and buy the ticket to Colchester. Board next train to Colchester.

 

[Talent]

Is the GA train is included in the £9.80 option? So I'm not limited to tube and TfL rail to Shenfield?

 

[matt_world2004]

I vote for the Oyster/Contactless option to Shenfield via Picadilly to Holborn, Central to Stratford, then any GA train to Shenfield. Get off there, tap out the card, and buy the ticket to Colchester. Board next train to Colchester.

You can use oyster to shenfield on abellio greater Anglia however you would need to touch out at shenfield so would need to get off.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Is the GA train is included in the £9.80 option? So I'm not limited to tube and TfL rail to Shenfield?

Yes, but you'd have to get off the train there and tap out on the reader there.

 

[Talent]

That means I can use TfL Rail from Heathrow to Ealing Broadway, Central line to Stratford and GA to Shenfield for just £9.80? The only catch is that I can't stay on the train as I have to tap out.

Right?

 

[NorthOxonian]

That means I can use TfL Rail from Heathrow to Ealing Broadway, Central line to Stratford and GA to Shenfield for just £9.80? The only catch is that I can't stay on the train as I have to tap out.

Right?

No, you won't be able to use TfL Rail - the fare from the various Heathrow terminal NR stations to Shenfield is £16.80. The £9.80 fare only applies for travel from the Underground stations - so you'd need to use the Piccadilly line.

 

[clagmonster]

If wanting to avoid getting off and back on at Shenfield, I would suggest:
Chalfont & Latimer - London Zones 1-6 Travelcard £14.30 (also covers Zones 1-9)
Brentwood - Colchester day single £15.40
Total £29.70

As the travelcard is a daily zonal ticket, there is no need for the train to stop at Brentwood. This is valid on either TfL Rail or the Piccadilly Line but not by Heathrow Express from Heathrow into London.

 

[JBuchananGB]

You don’t lose much time at Shenfield. You might be lucky and catch a Southend train at Stratford, by the time you’re down the subway, tapped out, bought a ticket, the Colchester train will be coming in.