Comments on: The true horror of Heathrow – getting there http://www.grumpytraveller.com/2010/01/08/the-true-horror-of-heathrow-%e2%80%93-getting-there/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Travelling beyond the gushing hyperbole Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:13:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matthew Teller http://www.grumpytraveller.com/2010/01/08/the-true-horror-of-heathrow-%e2%80%93-getting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-1926 Matthew Teller Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:58:17 +0000 http://www.grumpytraveller.com/?p=497#comment-1926 I'm with you, David. Using Zurich, Amsterdam, even lord help us Milan highlights just how poor Heathrow's transport connections are. But it's a function of our Victorian transport system - and our tragic 1950s car-obsession. Rail lines (and motorways) zero in on London, as if there were no reason for anyone to travel anywhere else. Try going from, say, Oxford to Cambridge, or Northampton to Norwich. It takes hours and hours. But we're not even learning lessons now. Look at Crossrail - an excellent scheme, apart from the fact that it, too, puts Heathrow on a spur instead of a main line. See map here: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/img/maps/regionalmap_lg.jpg As if Maidenhead matters more than Heathrow! It's madness. Crossrail SHOULD have made it possible to get a direct train to Heathrow from Bristol, Bath, Swindon - but no. Of course only people starting their journey in London truly matter. I live less than 60 miles north of Heathrow, but the easiest way for me to get there by public transport is by National Express coach - it's so 1970s. Just by chance, my town has a direct nonstop link down the M40. But, of course, National Express's timetables were devised by their inhouse team of monkeys with typewriters: roughly hourly buses between 1am and 6am, followed by gaps of 2-3hrs during the day, and the last bus in the evening is at 7.30pm - with nothing until after midnight. Doh! Heathrow is an utter disgrace in every way. Never mind more investment. It should be bulldozed forthwith, the ruins sown with salt... and sod the wetland birds of Essex - build a new airport in the Thames Estuary and make it snappy. I’m with you, David. Using Zurich, Amsterdam, even lord help us Milan highlights just how poor Heathrow’s transport connections are. But it’s a function of our Victorian transport system – and our tragic 1950s car-obsession. Rail lines (and motorways) zero in on London, as if there were no reason for anyone to travel anywhere else. Try going from, say, Oxford to Cambridge, or Northampton to Norwich. It takes hours and hours.

But we’re not even learning lessons now. Look at Crossrail – an excellent scheme, apart from the fact that it, too, puts Heathrow on a spur instead of a main line. See map here:
http://www.crossrail.co.uk/img.....map_lg.jpg
As if Maidenhead matters more than Heathrow! It’s madness. Crossrail SHOULD have made it possible to get a direct train to Heathrow from Bristol, Bath, Swindon – but no. Of course only people starting their journey in London truly matter.

I live less than 60 miles north of Heathrow, but the easiest way for me to get there by public transport is by National Express coach – it’s so 1970s. Just by chance, my town has a direct nonstop link down the M40. But, of course, National Express’s timetables were devised by their inhouse team of monkeys with typewriters: roughly hourly buses between 1am and 6am, followed by gaps of 2-3hrs during the day, and the last bus in the evening is at 7.30pm – with nothing until after midnight. Doh!

Heathrow is an utter disgrace in every way. Never mind more investment. It should be bulldozed forthwith, the ruins sown with salt… and sod the wetland birds of Essex – build a new airport in the Thames Estuary and make it snappy.

]]> By: benji lanyado http://www.grumpytraveller.com/2010/01/08/the-true-horror-of-heathrow-%e2%80%93-getting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-1882 benji lanyado Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:45:04 +0000 http://www.grumpytraveller.com/?p=497#comment-1882 Indeed. I always think of it the other way round... what tourists must think when they arrive at Heathrow...their first impressions must be awful. Indeed. I always think of it the other way round… what tourists must think when they arrive at Heathrow…their first impressions must be awful.

]]> By: Cheryl Probst http://www.grumpytraveller.com/2010/01/08/the-true-horror-of-heathrow-%e2%80%93-getting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-1881 Cheryl Probst Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:58:22 +0000 http://www.grumpytraveller.com/?p=497#comment-1881 You can get to Heathrow on the tube from places other than Paddington, it just takes a little longer and you may have to change a couple of times, but the savings are worth it. Last May, we got there starting at the High Street Kensington tube stop. Can't remember exactly how long it took, but it seems to me it was an hour or less. When we landed at Heathrow, we immediately went to the National Express/Coach stop, and hopped an express bus to Birmingham -- those senior citizens discounts are really nice! This was really smooth. We were using frequent flyer tickets, and flying into Birmingham wasn't an option due to the reduced mileage special. I have other complaints about Heathrow, but they don't include getting to the airport or leaving from it. You can get to Heathrow on the tube from places other than Paddington, it just takes a little longer and you may have to change a couple of times, but the savings are worth it. Last May, we got there starting at the High Street Kensington tube stop. Can’t remember exactly how long it took, but it seems to me it was an hour or less.

When we landed at Heathrow, we immediately went to the National Express/Coach stop, and hopped an express bus to Birmingham — those senior citizens discounts are really nice! This was really smooth. We were using frequent flyer tickets, and flying into Birmingham wasn’t an option due to the reduced mileage special.

I have other complaints about Heathrow, but they don’t include getting to the airport or leaving from it.

]]> By: Keith http://www.grumpytraveller.com/2010/01/08/the-true-horror-of-heathrow-%e2%80%93-getting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-1879 Keith Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:23:23 +0000 http://www.grumpytraveller.com/?p=497#comment-1879 Did you look at the National Express buses? If they don't run direct to LHR from Sheffield, it'll take you to Victoria Coach Station, from where there's frequent services to the airports. Maybe the timings aren't the most convenient, but they're well cheap. Did you look at the National Express buses? If they don’t run direct to LHR from Sheffield, it’ll take you to Victoria Coach Station, from where there’s frequent services to the airports.

Maybe the timings aren’t the most convenient, but they’re well cheap.

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