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How the Heathrow Express became the quickest route into London
Wondering how our Heathrow fast train service came about and if it really is the quickest option to get you from Heathrow into Central London or from London to Heathrow?
Come with us on a journey through our 27-year history and uncover more about why our premium fast train to Heathrow has long been at the forefront of British rail innovation.
The start of the Heathrow Express
It all started in 1993 when another transport route from the city to Heathrow was in dire need to help relieve some of the stress on the city’s roads. A fast, convenient train route was the number one priority and after securing millions of pounds in investment from the British Airport Authority, the Heathrow Express was greenlit.
Construction began in 1993, with the non-stop route’s two five-mile-long tunnels and two new stations taking approximately five years to complete. Its aim was to get airport passengers in or out of the city in just 15 minutes – a huge improvement on the old journey times by road or tube.
Our launch in the late 90s
In 1998, the premium Heathrow Express rail service was finally ready to launch – and it fast became one of the best ways to access the airport from Paddington in the heart of London. It was opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair on the 23rd of June and he had high hopes that it would boost investment into London.
In its first year of opening alone, the Heathrow Express welcomed close to 30 million passengers on board – and it’s continued to thrive over the year thanks to our unbeatably fast service and host of innovative features…
At the forefront of innovation
Not just famed for its impressive speed that gets passengers from A to B in just 15 minutes, the Heathrow Express has also been at the forefront of several other fantastic innovations and industry triumphs over the years. Let’s dive into a few of them below:
2000 – Say hello to Britain’s first onboard payphone
In 2000, just two years after launch, the Heathrow Express trains were fitted out with a brand-new bit of kit – payphones! With mobile phones not yet in popular use, these onboard phones gave passengers the chance to keep in touch with friends and family while on the move.
2008 – Extending the line
To coincide with the opening of Heathrow Terminal 5, we extended our Heathrow Express line to cater to passengers flying out of the brand-new terminal. The extension added just six extra minutes onto our journey times – allowing us to keep our Heathrow fast train status.
2009 – Handy flight information boards
While nowadays it’s possible to check flight delays on your smartphone in seconds, you used to have to wait until you reached the terminal building to see this information. However, in 2009, Heathrow Express introduced electronic flight status boards at Paddington station – a cutting-edge transport feature useful for both those heading to Heathrow to catch a flight and those venturing there to pick up friends or family.
2012 – An Olympic triumph!
Did you know that during the 2012 Olympics in London, Heathrow Express provided free transport for all Olympic officials and media covering the games? The year also marked our 15th anniversary which we celebrated by getting expert bakers to construct a train driver carriage out of cake during a live demonstration at Paddington station. A truly delicious affair!
2014 – Introducing Kids Go Free
It’s not just couples, solo travellers and business people who use our service. The Heathrow fast train is also a family-friendly option – and we cemented this fact in 2014 with the launch of our Kids Go Free policy which allows any child under 15 to travel free of charge when accompanied by an adult.
2017 – Celebrating 100 million passengers!
Yes, you read that right! In 2017, we reached our 100 million passengers milestone – and we celebrated it with our special HExibition event at Paddington station. This photo exhibition featured snaps of the station and passengers caught by travel blogger and professional photographer, Dave Burt.
Our commitment to speed and cost-effectiveness
We don’t just love to be at the forefront of innovation. Our fast trains from London to Heathrow and Heathrow to London also showcase our promise to provide both holidaymakers and business people with a quick, convenient and cost-effective way to travel between Heathrow and the city. And who knows where the future will take us!
Grab your ticket for the Heathrow Express here today.