What’s the Cheapest Way of Getting Out of Heathrow To Hayes & Harlington by train?

[Envoy]

I am getting the ridiculous figure of £14.40 for an Anytime Return for Heathrow to Hayes & Harlington in oder to reach the mainline to travel to Reading & points west. Now, I know that the Airport take a big cut of this but it seems ridiculous to have to pay £7.20 for a 7 minute train ride - non Railcard.

 

[JonathanH]

Use the X140 or 278 then and pay £1.75.

The fare for the train is set at a certain level, and there isn't much that can be done about it.

 

[Benjwri]

I am getting the ridiculous figure of £14.40 for an Anytime Return for Heathrow to Hayes & Harlington in oder to reach the mainline to travel to Reading & points west. Now, I know that the Airport take a big cut of this but it seems ridiculous to have to pay £7.20 for a 7 minute train ride - non Railcard.

If you’re travelling west what is your actual destination? If it’s off peak contactless would also be quicker.

 

[Envoy]

If you’re travelling west what is your actual destination? If it’s off peak contactless would also be quicker.

Destination could be Bath, Bristol or Cardiff. So, are you saying that I can just tap in a contactless bank card at Heathrow and tap out again at Hayes & Harlington and what would that cost off-peak? Would it be in a passengers’ favour to tap out at Reading - if allowed and then use normal tickets from their westward?

 

[Haywain]

Destination could be Bath, Bristol or Cardiff. So, are you saying that I can just tap in a contactless bank card at Heathrow and tap out again at Hayes & Harlington and what would that cost off-peak? Would it be in a passengers’ favour to tap out at Reading - if allowed and then use normal tickets from their westward?

What would be advatageous may depend on where you are actually going.

 

[Benjwri]

Destination could be Bath, Bristol or Cardiff. So, are you saying that I can just tap in a contactless bank card at Heathrow and tap out again at Hayes & Harlington and what would that cost off-peak? Would it be in a passengers’ favour to tap out at Reading - if allowed and then use normal tickets from their westward?

The cheapest option is very likely going to be getting a ticket for your entire journey, but obviously you need to know what that is.

 

[JonathanH]

The cheapest option is very likely going to be getting a ticket for your entire journey, but obviously you need to know what that is.

A day travelcard is valid to Heathrow on Elizabeth Line without surcharge.

Other tickets include much the same surcharge for access to Heathrow as rebooking at Hayes & Harlington.

Bath Spa to Hayes & Harlington super off peak return is £67.50
Bath Spa to Heathrow Rail super off peak return is £81.70.
(Both not via London)

 

[Benjwri]

A day travelcard is valid to Heathrow on Elizabeth Line without surcharge.

Other tickets include much the same surcharge for access to Heathrow as rebooking at Hayes & Harlington.

Bath Spa to Hayes & Harlington super off peak return is £67.50
Bath Spa to Heathrow Rail super off peak return is £81.70.
(Both not via London)

I was assuming they are heading from Heathrow to one of the 3 cities, then back out on a different day as assumed this was implied. They'd need 2 travel cards which works out more expensive I believe.

 

[JonathanH]

I was assuming they are heading from Heathrow to one of the 3 cities, then back out on a different day as assumed this was implied. They'd need 2 travel cards which works out more expensive I believe.

Yes, indeed.

I was simply making the point that a travelcard is the only ticket which doesn't have a Heathrow surcharge, and we are well aware what is expected to be happening to that very soon.

 

[Envoy]

Yes, indeed.

I was simply making the point that a travelcard is the only ticket which doesn't have a Heathrow surcharge, and we are well aware what is expected to be happening to that very soon.

Many thanks for responses. It would be for travel on different days for flights.

So - what is expected to be happening very soon?

 

[Gaelan]

So - what is expected to be happening very soon?

TfL's threatening to abolish day travelcards.

 

[Envoy]

TfL's threatening to abolish day travelcards.

Many thanks.

 

[P Binnersley]

It is worth considering the X140 bus from Heathrow central bus station to Harrow which stops outside Hayes and Harlington station.
Journey time 15 minutes, every 12-15 minutes. Fare £1.75 Oyster/contactless.

If you are arriving at Terminal 4 or 5, trains are within the airport, but the time penalty is greater due to the extra change.

 

[Deerfold]

It is worth considering the X140 bus from Heathrow central bus station to Harrow which stops outside Hayes and Harlington station.
Journey time 15 minutes, every 12-15 minutes. Fare £1.75 Oyster/contactless.

This was suggested in the first reply to the OP.

If you are arriving at Terminal 4 or 5, trains are within the airport, but the time penalty is greater due to the extra change.

I'm assuming you mean "trains are *free* within the airport"?

 

[Andyh82]

I’ve travelled on the X140 bus and I think it made decent progress so don’t be put off thinking it would be a London style 1mph journey that takes about an hour. Unless you’ve got a too much luggage it’s a viable option

 

[Envoy]

Many thanks everyone for taking the time to give your responses. So, it looks like the X140 bus it will be and therefore avoid the rip off rail fare for the short connection into Heathrow.

 

[sk688]

If going West you could also use the 350 to West Drayton and take the Elizabeth line from there , or a Railair to Reading

 

[pethadine82]

Or x140 to harlington corner and 81 to Slough. The 1.75 hopper fare would cover that as both TFL. There are other buses direct to Slough from Heathrow .

 

[Alex365Dash]

Or x140 to harlington corner and 81 to Slough. The 1.75 hopper fare would cover that as both TFL. There are other buses direct to Slough from Heathrow .

And since the single cap of £2 applies to both Reading Buses and First Berkshire, it’s only £2 single from Slough to Heathrow (T5, where there are free trains to T2, 3 & 4) direct on First’s 4 or Reading Buses’ 703.

 

[Deerfold]

And since the single cap of £2 applies to both Reading Buses and First Berkshire, it’s only £2 single from Slough to Heathrow (T5, where there are free trains to T2, 3 & 4) direct on First’s 4 or Reading Buses’ 703.

Or First's 7 which only serves Terminal 5, but it's not frequent than the 4.

 

[Envoy]

Many thanks for your further responses.

It looks like the 350 between Heathrow and West Drayton station might be the best bet in terms of frequency and reaching the main line for travel to/from the west whilst avoiding the rip off rail fare into Heathrow. I see on the 350 route guide that Hayes & Harlington is marked as a transfer with the railways but not West Drayton. Surely these buses go into the stop right outside the north side of West Drayton station? https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/timetable/350/

 

[mattdickinson]

Many thanks for your further responses.

It looks like the 350 between Heathrow and West Drayton station might be the best bet in terms of frequency and reaching the main line for travel to/from the west whilst avoiding the rip off rail fare into Heathrow. I see on the 350 route guide that Hayes & Harlington is marked as a transfer with the railways but not West Drayton. Surely these buses go into the stop right outside the north side of West Drayton station? https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/timetable/350/

Those bus stops have been closed for years due to a weak roadway at the entrance.

 

[redreni]

Many thanks everyone for taking the time to give your responses. So, it looks like the X140 bus it will be and therefore avoid the rip off rail fare for the short connection into Heathrow.

"Rip off" is fair comment.

Worth noting the fare premium for having the temerity to use a rail tunnel that was constructed using private finance is about 50% more than the charge for a private car or taxi to pick up/set down at the front door of the terminal. The latter cost is, of course, split between all passengers in the car, whereas the fare premium is per person. On the principle that you tax what you want to discourage, the only conclusion is the government wishes actively to discourage taking public transport to the airport.

 

[Envoy]

Those bus stops have been closed for years due to a weak roadway at the entrance.

It’s a pity they don’t fix the weak roadway at West Drayton station. I guess the bus stops on the main road nearby.

"Rip off" is fair comment.

Worth noting the fare premium for having the temerity to use a rail tunnel that was constructed using private finance is about 50% more than the charge for a private car or taxi to pick up/set down at the front door of the terminal. The latter cost is, of course, split between all passengers in the car, whereas the fare premium is per person. On the principle that you tax what you want to discourage, the only conclusion is the government wishes actively to discourage taking public transport to the airport.

Yep - totally agree. You would think that they would actively tell people from the west that they can reach Heathrow by train all the way without the need to go into London and that the fares would be attractive. The way things are, they are really swinging things in favour of National Express who run direct buses to the likes of Bristol & Cardiff at considerably cheaper prices than the trains. Having high price flexible train fares from Heathrow does not help either. You don’t know exactly when you will be able to leave the Airport for the mainline trains. So, pre-booking the cheaper advance specific train tickets presumably leads to people having to hang around Reading station seeing trains heading off to their destinations in the west.

 

[cactustwirly]

It is worth considering the X140 bus from Heathrow central bus station to Harrow which stops outside Hayes and Harlington station.
Journey time 15 minutes, every 12-15 minutes. Fare £1.75 Oyster/contactless.

If you are arriving at Terminal 4 or 5, trains are within the airport, but the time penalty is greater due to the extra change.

Bus 350 to West Drayton is a better option if starting from T5

How much is the RailAir? This will almost certainly be the fastest option

 

[island]

On the principle that you tax what you want to discourage, the only conclusion is the government wishes actively to discourage taking public transport to the airport.

Whilst I agree with the underlying sentiment, it is my understanding that the charges complained of are set by Heathrow Airport, not the government.

 

[Watershed]

Whilst I agree with the underlying sentiment, it is my understanding that the charges complained of are set by Heathrow Airport, not the government.

They're set by HAL, but regulated by the ORR. The ORR stopped HAL's attempt to "double dip" on the investment costs of the Heathrow Link.

 

[JonathanH]

The way things are, they are really swinging things in favour of National Express who run direct buses to the likes of Bristol & Cardiff at considerably cheaper prices than the trains.

Passengers can take their choice as to how to travel.

How much is the RailAir? This will almost certainly be the fastest option

£24 single, £25.10 day return, £32.30 period return, from Reading to Heathrow.

£27.80 return as an add on to fares to Reading.

You certainly don't use the railair from Reading for a cheap option.

 

[Envoy]

I have now been looking on Google Maps and it looks like the 350/U3 buses do not stop outside West Drayton station and the stops on the main road nearby are a little walk away.
As the bus X140 appears to stop outside Hayes & Harlington station - is that the better bet for convenience?

 

[cactustwirly]

I have now been looking on Google Maps and it looks like the 350/U3 buses do not stop outside West Drayton station and the stops on the main road nearby are a little walk away.
As the bus X140 appears to stop outside Hayes & Harlington station - is that the better bet for convenience?

It's only a few minutes walk, you're also saving time as West Drayton is 1 stop closer west