I had originally planned to leave for Oxford directly from Heathrow Terminal 5 on my booked connection from Slough with a seat reservation, but as I checked the departure time at the platform, I realised that my train would have come in just after the connection from the TfL Rail service, since it was timetabled for it to act as a free train transfer for passengers heading onto the Heathrow Express. As such, instead of waiting aimlessly on the platform at Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 (Heathrow Central) for 27 minutes, I decided to bounce back at Heathrow Terminal 4 instead.
Heading down to Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 Railway Station.
Heading down the elevator to the platform.
No buttons to press here aside from the doors – the lift makes automatic scheduled stops.
Entering the ticket gates with my ticket to Oxford.
My Off-Peak Return ticket from Heathrow Rail (all stations) to Oxford, which was collected earlier from Heathrow Terminal 4. With my 26-30 Railcard, this makes it £1.80 (S$3.15) cheaper than the direct the airline OxfordHeathrow bus.
Plus, it’s a train journey, so, my decision was obvious.
As the train arrived, passengers were informed not to board the train first.
Another 9-car set on service on the Heathrow Express.
The platform departure information screen at Heathrow Terminal 5.
The interior of Express Class.
Fold-out seats are available by the door, but I don’t think they ever get used with the high capacity of the train every 15 minutes, plus the high fares on the Heathrow Express would probably make each passenger want a proper seat.
The main section of Express Class in between the two doors of the coach.
The colours used in Express Class seem to be more welcoming than Business First.
The journey from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 (Heathrow Central) takes just 4 minutes.
At Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 (Heathrow Central), it’s a simple cross-platform transfer for trains to Heathrow Terminal 4.
Approaching Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 (Heathrow Central).
Doors open automatically on the Heathrow Express.
Yup, I wasn’t going to wait in this underground platform for 26 minutes. As such, I decided to continue on to Heathrow Terminal 4 to bounce, which that train would form this TfL Rail service to London Paddington anyway.
The coupling between the Class 332 4-car and 5-car sets.
Opposite, the platform departure screens show that the train to Heathrow Terminal 4 was ready to depart. Luckily, no train was in sight yet.
I guess this TfL Rail train was running slightly late.
The interior of the TfL Rail Class 360/2 Siemens Desiro.
As I was right at the end of the train, I took a seat in the area before the driver’s cab, which was placed in a 2+2 configuration, similar to the former Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link Express Line.
The new Central London Tube map, which is a bit of a misnomer since the TfL Rail isn’t a tube line.
Arrived at Heathrow Terminal 4 after another 4 minutes.
Here, I waited outside of the train till announcements are made for boarding, before I started my journey from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Oxford.
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