Heathrow - Birmingham Intl - 19th Jan

[muug1982]

Hi,

I've booked a 1st Advance from Heathrow Undergd to Birmingham International rte Virgin Trains Only on Saturday 19th.

My flight lands at 17:25 at Terminal 5.
My itinerary from Virgin trains, was London Underground 18:23 to Euston; dep Euston at 19:43
I've just read that there are engineering works on the Picadilly line on Saturday, and it will be 4 tubes to get from Heathrow to Euston. I'm assuming that as long as I'm at the underground for 18:23, then my onward connections would be honoured? I'm assuming my ticket isn't valid on heathrow connect? Is there anything I should do to validate that I am "on time" at any given point.

TFL suggests changes at Acton Town, Ealing Broadway and Oxford Circus, with a journey time of 1hr 29mins

Anyone have any advise on what a realistic journey time might be, given the connections. TFL allows 8 mins at Acton, 6 at Ealing and 5 at Oxford Circus. I'll have one smallish case + hand luggage

Thanks in advance

 

[alexjames]

I would hope to do that underground trip in about an hour. But it could take quite a bit longer if your luck was out.

As I understand it, delays on LUL do not "revalidate" Advances. Nothing on the TFL site to suggest that underground tix are valid on Heathrow Connect/Express. I think that they only do it when there is no underground routing to LHR.

Given that you are unlikely to get into the station at T5 before 18.00, the best advice would be to take a Heathrow Connect to Paddington for £9.50, continue to Euston Sq and hoof it the short distance from there.

 

[Wolfie]

Hi,

I've booked a 1st Advance from Heathrow Undergd to Birmingham International rte Virgin Trains Only on Saturday 19th.

My flight lands at 17:25 at Terminal 5.
My itinerary from Virgin trains, was London Underground 18:23 to Euston; dep Euston at 19:43
I've just read that there are engineering works on the Picadilly line on Saturday, and it will be 4 tubes to get from Heathrow to Euston. I'm assuming that as long as I'm at the underground for 18:23, then my onward connections would be honoured? I'm assuming my ticket isn't valid on heathrow connect? Is there anything I should do to validate that I am "on time" at any given point.

TFL suggests changes at Acton Town, Ealing Broadway and Oxford Circus, with a journey time of 1hr 29mins

Anyone have any advise on what a realistic journey time might be, given the connections. TFL allows 8 mins at Acton, 6 at Ealing and 5 at Oxford Circus. I'll have one smallish case + hand luggage

Thanks in advance

If you don't mind me asking, who picked your original timings? An hour to clear LHR T5 and get on to the tube platform is optimistic even if your flight arrival is dead on time. Oh, and the times given by TFL are not necessarily solely interchange times but will also be related to the working timetable -how closely they stick to that I will leave others to advise you.....

I am unable to replicate your journey on the NRE website. Firstly I would contact Virgin (or whatever firm sold you the ticket) soonest and secondly ensure that you carry a copy of your itinerary with you.

I think sensibly you need to aim to be at Euston by 1935 (if you have luggage you do not want a last minute run for the train); I doubt that you can do this by tube frankly. Having looked at the NRE and TFL websites I do not believe use of Heathrow Connect is a viable option (runs from Heathrow T123 station at 1827 and 1857 - the former is too early and the latter odesn't get to Paddington until 1924).

The only other option to make your original Virgin train is use of Heathrow Express (runs every 15 minutes - either the 1842, or marginally the 1857, would get you into Paddington in time to get to Euston - Paddington to Euston is quoted at 18/19 mins by TFL) BUT Heathrow Express costs £20 single and I do not believe there is a hope in heck you will be allowed to use your ticket on it (Connect might have been a realistic option).

Therefore I repeat get in touch with the original vendor, flag the non-availability of the orignal itinerary and get your Virgin service slipped in advance. MUCH easier than trying to sort out on arrival when failing to make connections, particularly since the engineering work has been publicised!

 

[muug1982]

I am unable to replicate your journey on the NRE website. Firstly I would contact Virgin (or whatever firm sold you the ticket) soonest and secondly ensure that you carry a copy of your itinerary with you

Thanks - the itinerary is still available from virgin's site although I made a typo - the actual departure time is 18:32 from LHR. Putting aside that this might be ambitious in itself, As this is booked as a through journey surely I'd be covered if I can prove I was in the underground on time, presumably the barriers will validate my ticket as such?

I'll try and resolve with Virgin in advance or at least get some reassurances / options.

 

[island]

What exactly are the origin and route shown on your ticket? Is there a + before the route?

 

[noblergt]

He said Heathrow Undergd, he most likely has this ticket (or one more expensive)

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=ZHJ&dest=BHI&rlc= &rte=474&ldn=1&tkt=FCS

 

[island]

I think that as long as the passenger is at Heathrow T5 Underground at the prescribed time, he should be endorsed to a later service by Virgin Trains in the (likely) event of missing the booked train, as it is all one itinerary and the engineering works weren't known at the time of purchase.

58 minutes should be sufficient to get through assuming the passenger is an EU citizen holding an ePassport.

 

[noblergt]

Interestingly, NRE still gives 18:32 as the departure time from Heathrow to catch the 19:43 train to Birmingham on the 19th, so I can only assume that tfl engineering work is never factored in. I can even buy an advance ticket still for that exact journey right now.

 

[Sprinter]

The Piccadilly Line is only closed between Acton Town and Hammersmith. There are rail replacement buses in place between the two, one running all stations the other non stop via the A4.

This fast bus only takes 10-15 minutes and is run using normal red London buses (so cases can just wheel on). Upon rejoining the Picc change at Green Park onto the Victoria Line to Euston. Hammersmith- Euston journey time is around 25 minutes.

 

[noblergt]

I wonder why they are so determined to get people to use the Central Line? It even says on their disruption page:

"Service C: Acton Town - Hammersmith. Customers travelling to / from Heathrow must use Central line services at Ealing Broadway to connect with the Piccadilly line at Acton Town via the District line."

 

[bb21]

It is a through ticket, so of course you will be covered provided that you arrive at the underground station by 1832.

If you miss your connection at Euston, they should be able to check with LU to verify the engineering works and the extended journey time. Obviously it is not your fault that the booking engine did not factor in the engineering works in the itinerary.

I too would have left more time than an hour between arrival at LHR and your booked departure. Just imagine the problems you can face if your bags are one of the last to be unloaded.

 

[muug1982]

Virgin have lifted advance ticket restrictions, so the timing issue is resolved. Just need to get back into the UK now!