LHR suspends free travel zone

[eoff]

TfL should withdraw the early morning buses that serve the airport if the subsidy is removed. the first
490/482 gets to Heathrow Terminal 5 at 04:00 ish. no way that running buses that early is profitable . When in the case of the 482 it can bearly sustain a 20 minute frequency throughout the day anyway pre covid and demand to terminal 4 is now non existent.

Heathrow would soon change its tune if it's employees can no longer get to work.

There has been a consistent attempt by Heathrow Airport limited to nickel and dime TfL over both crossrail contribution costs and track access fees for the service.

I suspect that this is in part motivated by spite caused by successful legal challenges to the third runway, failed attempts to charge high track access fees for crossrail and iirc the free travel zone was in part one of the conditions attached to ensure the construction of terminal 5.

I have stayed overnight in a hotel next to Heathrow between flights and one reason I did so was the simplicity of getting to and from the Hotel late and early without worrying about the fares and the timings of the specific hotel bus routes.. Less likely to do so now.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have stayed overnight in a hotel next to Heathrow between flights and one reason I did so was the simplicity of getting to and from the Hotel late and early without worrying about the fares and the timings of the specific hotel bus routes.. Less likely to do so now.

I've done the same, and TBH I'd far rather have been able to walk to the terminal, as I could know exactly how long that would take with no need to trust whether a bus would show up or not. Not much to worry about regarding TfL bus fares, they are all the same. The "Hotel Hoppa" is a scam, though.

 

[Ianno87]

I have stayed overnight in a hotel next to Heathrow between flights and one reason I did so was the simplicity of getting to and from the Hotel late and early without worrying about the fares and the timings of the specific hotel bus routes.. Less likely to do so now.

It's still only £1.50 single on a TfL bus. Not sure what there is to "worry" about?

 

[PeterC]

It's still only £1.50 single on a TfL bus. Not sure what there is to "worry" about?

If you aren't a local nothing is obvious. What is the fare? Can you pay on the bus? Will the driver give change? Can you pay by card? Can I pay for the whole family with one ?

Most regulars here know the answers but we aren't typical punters.

 

[Bletchleyite]

"Typical punters" are what the Hotel Hoppa is for, overpriced though it is. A bit like HEx

 

[Ianno87]

If you aren't a local nothing is obvious. What is the fare? Can you pay on the bus? Will the driver give change? Can you pay by card? Can I pay for the whole family with one ?

Most regulars here know the answers but we aren't typical punters.

Neither was the Free Fare zone obvious. It was never widely advertised. You did have to be "in the know" on that as well.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Neither was the Free Fare zone obvious. It was never widely advertised. You did have to be "in the know" on that as well.

Which was intentional - it was intended for locals and staff, tourists were meant to use the Hotel Hoppa. That came in in 1995 or thereabouts, I was actually on a trip from Heathrow across its introduction. Before it hotels had their own, usually free, shuttle buses, after it those were banned from the terminal.

 

[PeterC]

Neither was the Free Fare zone obvious. It was never widely advertised. You did have to be "in the know" on that as well.

That is an issue about bus publicity generally.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That is an issue about bus publicity generally.

TfL's publicity is pretty good compared with most places, though.

 

[Horizon22]

Travel card?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Nov 2020 ==

It now makes it impossible to enter the airport via walking.

So what do legitimate rail travelers do then? I know a friend who commutes this way by taking a bus to Heathrow.

 

[Mojo]

It now makes it impossible to enter the airport via walking.

Not very useful at the moment as Terminal 4 is closed and as are the railway/Underground stations, but you can walk to Terminal 4 almost entirely via official footpaths. A colleague of mine lives in Stanwell and used to walk to Terminal 4 to catch the Piccadilly line. Terminal 5 is closer and whilst I believe you can officially walk there, the roads don't have official footpaths and it's a bit more hairy.

 

[Robertj21a]

So what do legitimate rail travelers do then? I know a friend who commutes this way by taking a bus to Heathrow.

Why can't he still take a bus to Heathrow?

 

[Horizon22]

Why can't he still take a bus to Heathrow?

I was referring to the walking into the airport bit.

 

[matt_world2004]

I was referring to the walking into the airport bit.

Buses still run in the terminal area just you have to pay for them

 

[eoff]

Neither was the Free Fare zone obvious. It was never widely advertised. You did have to be "in the know" on that as well.

I found out about this in a section on the Heathrow website. The styling has possibly changed but there is still a reference along with a map...

https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-coach-or-bus/local-buses

 

[Bletchleyite]

I found out about this in a section on the Heathrow website. The styling seems to have changed but there is still a reference along with a map...

https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-coach-or-bus/local-buses

That's quite misleading, as you'd think it included interchange between Tube and bus at Hatton Cross and it doesn't.

 

[Dstock7080]

Map dated 1 January 2021 still shows free travel bus services

https://www.heathrow.com/content/dam/heathrow/web/common/documents/transport/Heathrow-Free-Travel-Zone.pdf

 

[markymark2000]

Map dated 1 January 2021 still shows free travel bus services

https://www.heathrow.com/content/dam/heathrow/web/common/documents/transport/Heathrow-Free-Travel-Zone.pdf

This seems to suggest that a cheaper partnership between Heathrow and TFL has been established.

It's kind of been left as the minimum amount of services but still useful for passengers.


--edited to remove wrong information. I thought some extra services were I cluded in the scheme--

 

[Non Multi]

This seems to suggest that a cheaper partnership between Heathrow and TFL has been established. I say this as non TFL services seem to be removes. Also TFL services which don't serve the airport terminals are now removed from the scheme. Limited stop X26/X140 are also removed from the scheme (not sure why though, possibly as they are very limited use for Heathrow travellers).

It's kind of been left as the minimum amount of services but still useful for passengers.

The X26 wasn't included in the scheme previously, I've checked on my copy of an older map. The X140 is a relatively new route, so wasn't shown. There's no benefit whatsoever in having a full X26 leave passengers behind at Heathrow Central then virtually empty out at Hatton Cross.

 

[matt_world2004]

This seems to suggest that a cheaper partnership between Heathrow and TFL has been established. I say this as non TFL services seem to be removes. Also TFL services which don't serve the airport terminals are now removed from the scheme. Limited stop X26/X140 are also removed from the scheme (not sure why though, possibly as they are very limited use for Heathrow travellers).

It's kind of been left as the minimum amount of services but still useful for passengers.

X140, X26 90 and some other TFL routes that served the free travel zone have not been in the scheme for years. it is only all stops buses that serve at least one terminal that are in the scheme.

The x26 is occasionally free from Hatton cross when the Piccadilly line is experiencing disruption.

555 used to be in the free travel zone.

 

[markymark2000]

I thought more services were in the scheme. Ive now edited my post to reflect the fact that wasn't the case.

555 used to be in the free travel zone.

All non TFL services have come out of the scheme now.

 

[185143]

So what's actually still included? Trains, LU and TfL buses?

 

[PG]

So what's actually still included? Trains, LU and TfL buses?

AFAIK it is only TfL buses, though I could be wrong.
EDIT:
Seems like all are included though trains and LU are only available for transferring between terminals.
https://www.heathrow.com/company/te...ransport/changes-to-heathrow-travel-subsidies

• From 1 January 2021, some bus services within the Heathrow FTZ will cease to be free.
• From a date later in 2021, the remaining buses within the Heathrow FTZ will cease to be free.

Free inter-terminal transfer will remain in place on TfL Rail, Heathrow Express and London Underground to enable colleagues and passengers to move between terminals.

 

[camflyer]

Shame it is going as I have used the free bus service on numerous occasions for hotels on Bath Road. However, I'd still be happy to pay the single fare rather than whatever the Hoppa service is these days.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Shame it is going as I have used the free bus service on numerous occasions for hotels on Bath Road. However, I'd still be happy to pay the single fare rather than whatever the Hoppa service is these days.

The Hoppa is outrageously priced, far in excess of what would be necessary to operate it as a commercial bus route. I suspect Heathrow are (in normal circumstances) utterly creaming it in with access fees or similar.

 

[Butts]

The Hoppa is outrageously priced, far in excess of what would be necessary to operate it as a commercial bus route. I suspect Heathrow are (in normal circumstances) utterly creaming it in with access fees or similar.

From my experience they don't even do a return ticket any cheaper than the price of two singles.

Last time I used one it was about £4? each way.

Is the Ripoffahoppa not operated by National Express ?

 

[Mojo]

From my experience they don't even do a return ticket any cheaper than the price of two singles.

Last time I used one it was about £4? each way.

Is the Ripoffahoppa not operated by National Express ?

Their website says it’s £10.50 return (or £10 if bought FROM a hotel) or £5.50 single. 50p surcharge on each ticket if you buy on board.

The cheekiest of all hotels in the area must however go to the Thistle, who charge a £6 each way “gate supplement,” allowing customers to use the Pods to and from Terminal 5 to take a shortcut through a gate to the hotel from the car park where the pods drop you off.

 

[221129]

From my experience they don't even do a return ticket any cheaper than the price of two singles.

Last time I used one it was about £4? each way.

Is the Ripoffahoppa not operated by National Express ?

£5 each way I think it is now.

And it hasn't been Natex for a while now. It's operated by Hallmark Connections (Part of Rotala)

 

[Ianno87]

Shame it is going as I have used the free bus service on numerous occasions for hotels on Bath Road. However, I'd still be happy to pay the single fare rather than whatever the Hoppa service is these days.

Agree, £1.50 is still a bargain.

The Hoppa is outrageously priced, far in excess of what would be necessary to operate it as a commercial bus route. I suspect Heathrow are (in normal circumstances) utterly creaming it in with access fees or similar.

You do get the added convenience of boarding at the hotel door (rather than traipsing to a bus stop) and then alighting at the terminal (rather than the Central Bus station). And enough people seem happy to pay it.

 

[221129]

You do get the added convenience of boarding at the hotel door (rather than traipsing to a bus stop) and then alighting at the terminal (rather than the Central Bus station).

Depends what terminal you are using and what bus route you use.