Getting the train to Heathrow...

[Mutley]

OK, not sure if this is the right place to put this question, but here goes....

I need to get from Reading Station to Heathrow Terminal Three.

Sounds straight forward, except I can't get a straight answer from person or web site.

According to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk, there are trains that run every half hour from Reading to LHR T3. Great. Except I can't find any information about the station at Terminal three. Is it the same station that the Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect? Because when I try to look for information on T3 station, only those two services are mentioned, and they only go to/from Paddington, and no where near Reading....

I'm hoping the well-travelled forumites of Hexus can help out here...

TIA

[burble]

There are 2 mainline train stations at Heathrow, 1 underneath T1, T2 & T3 and the other underneath T4.

[Mutley]

Is that the same station has Heathrow Express uses?

And also, when you say under, I assume its just a walk to get to the terminal to check-in?

Thanks!

[burble]

Sorry, I should have said. Yep, it's the same station that Heathrow Express & Connect use. Yep, it's walking distance from the station to the terminals, I don't remember hwo far but I think it was about 10 minutes to T1 and I think that's the farthest one away.

[Mutley]

thanks Burble, you're a star.

I usually get the missus to drive me to T3 from Reading, and drop me off, but each time I go it gets busier on the roads, and the traffic queue into T3 is a nightmare, and of course recent events have made it much worse. Gives me heart failure each time!

[burble]

Heathrow in general is a nightmare these days. I flew back into T1 last Tuesday and it took nearly 40 minutes to get back to the car park on the bus thanks to snarled up traffic at T3.

When I've got flights at sensible times then I'll most often take the train into London then get the Heathrow Express from Paddington.

[Mutley]

As there is a train direct from Reading (takes 45 minutes) I'll use that I think.
Flight leaves at 11, so I want to get there for about 8,cos its a Virgin flight and their checkin is an unholy 'mare, then you've got the security queue.

[idimmu]

there is the RailAir bus from reading station which runs frequently, ive used it a couple of times to get to heathrow (albeit terminal 1), fairly painless service.

http://www.railair.com/timetables_monfri.php

it seems that they do go to T3, around every 20 mins or so. dont know if this is any help.

[Mutley]

Similar problem to going by car to be honest - if the M4 gets messed up, you can be stuffed, but its worth considering, thanks.

[idimmu]

hmm yes i didnt think about that. or read your other reply properly

[toolsong]

The lightning strike at Slough this afternoon meant Heathrow Express is suspended and Reading to Paddington has big problems.

Just took me 3 hours to get home...

http://nationalrail.co.uk/service_bu...348228d57.html

[TiG]

Mutley, I have to say every time i've flown from Heathrow i've always used that railair bus, its awesome reliable think i've used it 6 times, and i live in near reading and i'd honestly be suprised you getting stuffed unless you are travelling at rush hour.

A train is no guarentee of getting there either remember

TiG

[Mutley]

Hi TiG...never used the bus before, always had an aversion to them, but I'll definitely take a look.
They drop off right outside the terminal don't they?