Heathrow Express is offering fast track security perk to travellers
(Picture: Steve Parsons/PA)The Heathrow Express is offering to fast track travellers through airport security in a growing battle with the Elizabeth line for passengers.
The non-stop service, which links Heathrow and Paddington in 15 minutes, faces a new challenge when Elizabeth line trains start running direct from Canary Wharf and the West End to the airport from November 6.
The Elizabeth line trains will take at least twice as long but the £12.80 fare from Zone 1 will be just over half the price of a £25 standard single on the Heathrow Express.
In a bid to attract passengers to its “premium” service, the Heathrow Express has begun offering free rapid fast track transit through the airport — bypassing often lengthy security queues — for those who upgrade to a £32 first class single ticket. This applies to all its first class passengers even if they are flying economy.
Hundreds of passengers a month have been persuaded to upgrade their ticket, according to commercial strategy lead Mark Eastwood. He told the Standard there had been a 1.5 per cent increase in first class travel since the fast-track benefit was introduced in July.
The Heathrow Express, which is owned by the airport, celebrates its 25th anniversary next year. It carries about 15,500 passengers a day — of which 775 travel first class. Mr Eastwood said: “People really value being able to get to London quickly. With the Heathrow Express, our trains are designed for travellers, not commuters.”
The changes to the Elizabeth line on November 6 will allow trains from its western branch — which links Heathrow and Reading with Paddington — to run through its central London tunnels for the first time, creating a direct connection through to Abbey Wood.
At present, the Elizabeth line’s Heathrow trains operate from Paddington mainline station, stopping at six stations along the way.
Transport for London scrapped its cheaper off-peak Heathrow fares last month, meaning the Elizabeth line costs £12.80 and a Tube journey costs £5.50 throughout the day.
The Elizabeth line’s Bond Street station, which was not finished in time to open along the rest of the line on May 24, will open on October 24 — delivering passengers direct to and from the heart of the West End. More than two million trips a week are being taken on the central section of the Elizabeth line, generating £20 million more in fares than TfL expected.
