Heathrow Express "Bash"

[coxy]

Was toying with the idea of bashing 332 units between the various Heathrow stations.

My understanding is that you can travel for free on Heathrow Express (Hex) services between T5 and T1,2,3. However what's not clear to me is how you get to the platforms in the first place ?

If for example I hold a zones 1-6 travelcard, I can take the Picadilly Line to T5. Then is it just a simple case of changing platforms for the Hex ??

 

[Techniquest]

It is relatively simple to find the Heathrow Express platforms from the Piccadilly line, I've done it in both directions before, IIRC it's less than 5 minutes walk between the two lines. Actually now I think about it I think it's way easier than that, with platforms next to each other, with the 5 minute walk from the front door to T5. Not been down there since June 2010 so my memory's a little hazy!

Will this be your first HEx bash? If so I would highly recommend coming down from Paddington (or going back, but I still say the westbound run's the most fun somehow) for the experience of a 332 at speed storming down the GWML. It's not cheap, as anyone who's looked at HEx prices will know, but it's worth it for the experience.

Sadly I don't think the Meet and Greet day return tickets exist anymore, they were only £16 or so when I did that some years ago and made for a much more reasonably priced HEx bash.

 

[coxy]

Hi Techniquest.

Thanks for the quick reply. It'll be my first Hex bash, although I did experience a journey into Paddington several years ago having returned from a business trip !!

If it's as simple as you say then I'll look to do it in the next couple of weeks - will just need to double check the Hex timetable to ensure I'm not going to be jumping on the same 332 units all the time.

Cheers.
Coxy


ps - really enjoy your trip reports, keep up the good work

 

[Techniquest]

Hi Techniquest.

Thanks for the quick reply. It'll be my first Hex bash, although I did experience a journey into Paddington several years ago having returned from a business trip !!

If it's as simple as you say then I'll look to do it in the next couple of weeks - will just need to double check the Hex timetable to ensure I'm not going to be jumping on the same 332 units all the time.

Cheers.
Coxy

Nay drama, I happened to be looking at the Trip Reports sector of the forum very shortly after your thread was posted and couldn't help jumping in straight in with a reply.

It SHOULD be a simple and easy trip, I would look into it first just to be sure though, as I mentioned previously it's been over 4 years since I last did a T5 HEx leaper! It's definitely well signposted from memory, and if all else fails just ask someone there.

It's a 15 minute frequency each way on a weekday so you should score a few different pairs. Which is a good point, weekends it's usually single 332s on the HEx services, and to the best of my knowledge it's pairs of 332s all day on weekdays. With possible exception to the early morning/late night services that is, I don't often see those.

ps - really enjoy your trip reports, keep up the good work

Thanks Coxy, that does put a smile on my face and is most appreciated. As anyone fairly new to the trip reporting scene will no doubt agree upon, it takes a fair bit of effort to write them. They might take 10 minutes to read but about 5 hours all in of writing into the notebook to begin with as well as the typing up of them. Making them interesting is another thing altogether, as is finding the time to type them up...

Really hope you enjoy the leaping about the place and score plenty of 332s (I'd imagine you'll get at least 6 pairs in, but I'm sure someone else will know better than me), do feel free to post your observations on the 'Trains you've seen working' thread and maybe even a trip report too!

 

[starrymarkb]

IIRC at T5 get the lift up to departures, then walk to the adjacent HEx Lift and back down to the Platforms - I'm not sure you can change platforms lower down via stairs or escalators.

At T123 Picc, Follow the travelator for Terminal 3 - Hex is on the right just before the Terminal

 

[Hornet]

Just be aware of the 'No Photography' rule on the HEX Heathrow Platforms. Also if you are travelling around between the three Heathrow Stations all day, you may come to the attention of the 'Security Gestapo', who, with what is happening in the Middle East, might well make themselves known to you. I speak from experience!

 

[455driver]

Also if you are travelling around between the three Heathrow Stations all day, you may come to the attention of the 'Security Gestapo', who, with what is happening in the Middle East, might well make themselves known to you. I speak from experience!

I went and saw then first to explain what we (my son was with me) were doing and asked if it was okay, I offered to let them look through my rucksack, they thanked me for going to them and they were happy for us to carry on. This was several years ago though!

 

[fowler9]

I think depending on the situation if you tell the security staff what you are doing the security staff won't mind. There are exceptions, I wanted to take photos of ships at the Garden Island naval base in Sydney. No chance by the best spots. The guards were cool though and just said to go somewhere out of sight.

 

[paulravuslante]

It's a 15 minute frequency each way on a weekday so you should score a few different pairs. Which is a good point, weekends it's usually single 332s on the HEx services, and to the best of my knowledge it's pairs of 332s all day on weekdays. With possible exception to the early morning/late night services that is, I don't often see those.

Really hope you enjoy the leaping about the place and score plenty of 332s (I'd imagine you'll get at least 6 pairs in, but I'm sure someone else will know better than me), do feel free to post your observations on the 'Trains you've seen working' thread and maybe even a trip report too!

Yeah, correct in that all 332s are doubled up (normally) from start of service til the evening on weekdays. Saturdays are single units all day normally and Sundays are single units until they double up from mid afternoon. There are a few weekends of alterations though coming though so the weekend pattern may be messed up a bit.

Also it'll be 5 pairs of units per day, although a bonus one might be doing the T4 shuttle. There's no way of knowing in advance though!

IIRC at T5 get the lift up to departures, then walk to the adjacent HEx Lift and back down to the Platforms - I'm not sure you can change platforms lower down via stairs or escalators.

A shorter interchange is indeed possible by going up the escalators (signposted for Arrivals) to the mezzanine level and then walking across the glass bridges to the Hex side.