SSR Exmouth—Heathrow Rail: valid by Heathrow Express?

[lightbulb]

Dear all,

My friend is travelling tomorrow on the outward portion of an SSR from Exmouth to Heathrow Rail route 00000 Any Permitted (£89.80 with Disabled Persons Railcard). I believe this is valid on the Heathrow Express from Paddington, but he is doubtful as his ticket does not specifically mention Heathrow Express. Could anyone confirm its validity please?

 

[yorkie]

Of course it's valid; it's routed Any Permitted and is issued to Heathrow Rail.

You can demonstrate this by going to a booking site, which will happily generate an itinerary.

(If a ticket had to specifically mention every service it was valid on, that would be a very long list in many cases!)

 

[Watershed]

Of course it's valid; it's routed Any Permitted and is issued to Heathrow Rail.

(If a ticket had to specifically mention every service it was valid on, that would be a very long list in many cases!)

To be fair, Heathrow Express isn't one of the Train Companies listed in the NRCoT, and there is frequently an 'airport tax' for such services! The term "Heathrow Rail" could also be seen to refer to the Underground stations, as these are also rail services.

However these tickets are certainly priced for validity on the Heathrow Express, and journey planners do offer itineraries on the HEx.

 

[yorkie]

The term "Heathrow Rail" could also be seen to refer to the Underground stations, as these are also rail services.

Maybe some people do erroneously think that, but to be clear, tickets which are issued to the Underground station are issued to either of these locations:

• Heathrow Undergd
• Zoe U1256 Londn

As for the status of Heathrow Express, it's not at all optimal or satisfactory in my opinion, but it's best not go further than that in this thread, as the main point stands that if a ticket is routed Any Permitted and issued to the Rail station specifically, then it's absolutely valid on HEX.

 

[lightbulb]

Maybe some people do erroneously think that, but to be clear, tickets which are issued to the Underground station are issued to either of these locations:

• Heathrow Undergd
• Zoe U1256 Londn

As for the status of Heathrow Express, it's not at all optimal or satisfactory in my opinion, but it's best not go further than that in this thread, as the main point stands that if a ticket is routed Any Permitted and issued to the Rail station specifically, then it's absolutely valid on HEX.

Indeed! My friend thought that it was only valid on TFL (Elizabeth Line) services, and had assumed that HXX services would always attract a premium fare. Many thanks for confirming my thoughts!

 

[yorkie]

No worries.

There is a sort-of premium in the sense that it's £18.35 (with Railcard discount) more expensive for this ticket, valid via Paddington, than changing for an Elizabeth Line service at Hayes & Harlington (on the "Not via London" routed ticket)

 

[SargeNpton]

To be fair, Heathrow Express isn't one of the Train Companies listed in the NRCoT, and there is frequently an 'airport tax' for such services! The term "Heathrow Rail" could also be seen to refer to the Underground stations, as these are also rail services.

However these tickets are certainly priced for validity on the Heathrow Express, and journey planners do offer itineraries on the HEx.

There are three distinct fares "destinations" for Heathrow Airport: Heathrow Rail, Heathrow Bus and Heathrow Undegrround; with separate fares that are not inter-operable.

 

[Watershed]

There are three distinct fares "destinations" for Heathrow Airport: Heathrow Rail, Heathrow Bus and Heathrow Undegrround; with separate fares that are not inter-operable.

Indeed there are. But it wouldn't necessarily be obvious to the 'man on the Clapham Omnibus' that Heathrow Rail means 'National Rail' rather than 'Underground'. They may well be unaware that there are National Rail fares for the Underground or buses!

Of course, with TfL trying to brand the Elizabeth Line as a quasi Underground line, things get even more messy...