Heathrow Express and Heathrow connect are the only two National Rail services to call at the Heathrow Airport stations (Also served by London Undergrounds Piccadilly Line.) Heathrow Express is the Non stop 15 minute service from Heathrow Central to London Paddington, Heathrow Connect is the stopping service that Calls at Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall, Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Central. They are two separate companies but share revenue and Train Managers with each other. Heathrow Connect is subsidised by BAA (Heathrow Airports owners) and is part owned by First Group.
Heathrow Express does operate the free transfer from Heathrow terminals too.
Heathrow Connect uses a fleet of Class 360’2 5 carriage desiro units which are pictured below.
360204 at Ealing Broadway
Heathrow Express used a fleet of 332’s 5 carriage units, There is also a Class 350’2 for the underground shuttle service from Terminal 1,2,3 to Terminal 4 & 5. Both are pictured below.
360205 At Ealing Broadway
Class 332 at London Paddington
Heathrow Connect is set to be absorbed into the Crossrail system in 2016.
The next inside story will be about First Transpennine Express.
^TB
