Heathrow transfers to / from English Midlands

There are two possible routes to the Midlands by rail from Heathrow - none of them direct. There are train schedules from Reading which is connected to Heathrow by a RailAir coach (pictured top of page) just for such transfers. The Reading option is particularly useful for Oxford.

For possible routes for your journey use the Trainline website. However for most people the frequencies of the trains from Central London win out, the major stations covering the Midlands from London being Marylebone, Euston and St Pancras stations. Heathrow to these stations are tedious journeys.

Heathrow to Central London details

Reading RailAir Bus

At Heathrow the RailAir bus only picks up at Terminal 5 and the Central Bus Station between Terminals 2 and 3. From Terminal 4 you can take the Heathrow Express train that runs every 15 minutes over to Heathrow Central which is below the Bus Station. The bus sets passengers down at Terminals 2, 3 and 5, not 4.

Frequencies are broadly every 20 to 30 minutes, the journey time is scheduled at under one hour but the motorway used is prone to traffic congestion delays at peak times.

Purchasing train tickets

As a general rule of thumb for journeys of around an hour or so there is no financial advantage in pre purchasing, you may as well buy at the station on day of travel. For longer journeys, advance purchase fares offer great savings.

Only on the main trunk routes are there reserved seats, most services you just grab the first available seat you like the look off. The three types of tickets are broadly:

• Advance Purchase: Buy in advance, sold in limited numbers and subject to availability. These tickets will have restrictions specified when purchasing.

• Off Peak: Buy any time, travel off-peak. The definition of off peak can vary from ticket to ticket. These tickets may require you to travel at specific times of day, days of the week or on a specific route. Where there is more than one Off-Peak fare for a journey, the cheaper fare with more restrictions will be called Super Off-Peak.

• Anytime: Buy any time, travel any time. (The standard ticket.) Anytime fares are fully flexible tickets, with no time restrictions on when you can travel.

Getting the cheapest fares

Advance purchase tickets on these longer distances on the other hand can be bargains. The cheap tickets are normally released 3 months prior to your departure date and the best deals often sell out quickly.

Now Trainline have released e-tickets together with mobile tickets options for purchasing from overseas are better than ever before. You can even book on behalf of someone else.

Trainline state that more fares are released on their app than are available at the ticket machine - you so you get more choice too! E-tickets are sent as a PDF attachment, and you have flexibility to use straight from your phone, or for reassurance, you can print off a hard copy.

Mobile tickets are available on iOS and android phones and you can use directly through the Trainline website or the Trainline app.

You can also order tickets online and pick up the tickets from machines at key mainline stations including Heathrow Airport.

At train stations there are manned ticket offices and also ticket machines. All major credit cards are taken as well as cash.

For fares and timetables use the 'Trainline' website where you can also order tickets for delivery to your home address.

National Express offers direct services to most major cities in Western England and South Wales bypassing London all together.

Tickets are sold as e-tickets, so you buy them in advance, online; visitors from overseas can pay by credit card and have their tickets delivered by email in a couple of minutes.

Most journeys will be far cheaper than train, especially if you get a return ticket. However frequencies are not as good and journey times are normally longer.

Cheapest promotional fares are available online in advance. Normally a return fare is much, much cheaper than two single fares.

When you purchase a ticket for a National Express service it is for a single stated departure time. You do not get an individual seat number, but you are guaranteed a seat.

It is recommended booking a service at least 90 minutes after the scheduled arrival time of your flight. So what happens if your flight is late? There is a range of ticket types available. Like airlines, the cheapest fares are no refund, no changes, you pay more for a fare that you can change schedule or get a refund if you change your mind.

National Express luggage allowance

You can carry two medium-sized suitcases - weighing up to 20kg (44lb) each - plus one small piece of hand luggage per person. Drivers loading the baggage do not weigh bags.

Customers will be permitted to pool their individual allowances if they are travelling in a group or as a family, but they must be travelling on the same ticket.

Over this allowance and steep excess luggage charges kick in. Passengers within the luggage allowance get boarded first, those with excess luggage only get boarded if there is sufficient space left in the luggage hold, even if they have purchased a ticket.

Click on banner link below to take you to the National Express website for more details for charges for extra baggage.

Terminals 4 and 5 at Heathrow

All coaches from and to Heathrow stop at Heathrow Bus Station between Terminals 2 and 3. A few coaches will stop also at Terminals 4 and 5 on the other side of the airport.

It's worth checking if you are using Terminals 4 or 5 if more timely journeys become available by travelling from Heathrow Central Bus Station. The Heathrow Express train service operates every 15 minutes between Terminals 4 and 5 and Heathrow Central, beneath the Central Bus Station, this is a free service.