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Heathrow Express

Heathrow Express is a rail operator that runs trains between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport. Let's take a look at what their trains are like.

Who are Heathrow Express?

Heathrow Express is a rail company completely owned by Heathrow Airport Holdings. It runs trains that operate non-stop from London Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 5. You’ll need to change trains if you want to reach Terminal 4.

You can click here to find out which terminal you’ll need when you’re arriving or departing from the Airport.

Trains run every 15 minutes during the day, and take roughly 15 minutes to get from Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3.

Heathrow Express trains start to operate at 05:10 from London Paddington, every day. The first train leaves Heathrow Terminal 5 at 05:12, and Heathrow Central at 05:17. This can vary depending on engineering works.

So, can you get cheap fares?

Yes and no! If you book on the day, Heathrow Express can be a little expensive. It’s £25 for a single or £37 for a return, which is valid to return within a month.

However, if you book in advance, you can pay as little as £5.50. These tickets are a little different to normal Advance tickets, as you don’t have to travel on a specific train. You just need to travel on the date that you’ve picked. Railcard discounts can be applied to all of these fares, too.

On board services

5 out of 5
Luggage

There is an extensive amount of luggage space throughout the train. You’ll have no problem finding somewhere suitable to store even the bulkiest items.

Food & Drink

There isn’t any food and drink available on the train. Don’t worry though, there’s plenty of choice at London Paddington!

WIFI

Free (and fast) WiFi is available on all trains. We were able to get an average of 8.31Mbps download speed which is more than enough for a short trip.

Bikes

There’s no need to make a reservation for a non-folding bike. However, you can’t take it on trains that leave Heathrow between 06:30 and 10:00 or leave London between 16:30 and 19:00. This only applies on weekdays. There’s more information in our dedicated guide to travelling with bikes.

Special Assistance

Assistance is available from the Passenger Assist office on Platform 1 at London Paddington. You can find out more about Passenger Assist on our dedicated page.

Standard Class

Heathrow Express has a fleet of 12 Electrostar trains that run on their route. They have four carriages, but usually run in pairs to form an eight-coach train.

All seats are in a 2+2 layout, and every window seat has access to a power socket and USB ports. You won’t find any full-size tables on these trains, but the bays of four seats have cup holders.

Can I upgrade to First Class?

Heathrow Express has a ‘Business First’ option. You’ll get a full-sized table, a bigger seat and Fast-Track security at Heathrow if you’re catching a flight.

For a ‘leisure’ passenger, it might not be worth the upgrade, but if you need to get some work done, you (or your employer!) might prefer to pay the extra. You can find more information about Business First here.

Information about routes

Trains operate from London Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 and Heathrow Terminal 5. You’ll need to change at Terminals 2 & 3 if you’re going to Terminal 4.

Fun Facts

Great Western Railway is responsible for the day-to-day running of Heathrow Express. In fact, the current train fleet used to operate local Great Western Railway services in the Thames Valley.