Oyster on Heathrow Express

[island]

As all HEX trains have onboard ticket inspectors, it would seem to me that the appropriate method would be to equip them with gadgets that would charge the amount to an Oyster card in the same way the riverboats do. They already accept contactless cards on board so no change there.

 

[jon0844]

The way it works on the River services is a mess though. First you're stopped when entering a jetty by someone wanting to check your Oyster balance (who, in my last case, saw my photo ID and then concluded I worked for London Underground!), then before you board the boat you must tap in as they watch - or they demand you do it again!

I've been told that they'd prefer it if people got paper tickets or mobile tickets, as they clearly don't seem to like accepting Oyster.

Any system on HEX would need to be quick and easy, and with a way to cope with the inevitable situation where someone won't have enough credit. As such, I'd say it makes more sense to deal with the payment at the airport itself, not on the train.

 

[andythebrave]

As far as I can see, no amount has yet been suggested. £21.90 was yorkie's poor attempt at extreme cynicism. Considering that Gatwick Express only charges £19.80 for a journey that is twice as long, and that isn't being increased next year, I think £21.90 at todays prices is extremely unlikely.

But, as we well know, cynicism is merely the art of accurate observation.

 

[Tomglomerate]

Once the new underground crossrail platforms open, (aside from potentially during engineering works) HX and XR will not call at the same platforms at Paddington, so could they distinguish using that fact? This may fall down depending on whether you need to go through barriers to interchange between the 2 areas, but has got to be better than the GX Victoria solution.

On another note, while there is free travel between Heathrow terminals on HX (I assume that continues to be a thing?) they still need on-board staff to check tickets.

 

[JaJaWa]

Once the new underground crossrail platforms open, (aside from potentially during engineering works) HX and XR will not call at the same platforms at Paddington, so could they distinguish using that fact?

That's exactly how I imagine it will work.

At Heathrow, I suspect we'll see an 'Athens-style gateline' to ensure passengers transferring between flights to not do pick up an Oyster card to do so.

 

[matt_world2004]

Once the new underground crossrail platforms open, (aside from potentially during engineering works) HX and XR will not call at the same platforms at Paddington, so could they distinguish using that fact? This may fall down depending on whether you need to go through barriers to interchange between the 2 areas, but has got to be better than the GX Victoria solution.

On another note, while there is free travel between Heathrow terminals on HX (I assume that continues to be a thing?) they still need on-board staff to check tickets.

Crossrail will call at the mainline platforms for close to a year before launch and will have a seperate pricing structure to the heathrow express.

 

[Dom395]

With under 15's roaming around with 5p tickets I don't think Heathrow Express can afford to lose anymore money.

 

[island]

The Elizabeth Line is not allowed to serve T5 for a number of years.