Heathrow - for Londoners only?

[Moscow Mule]

Crossrail is going to have a spur to Heathrow.

Heathrow is lovely for me as I live about 15-45 minute drive away (depending on time of day).

You can pretty much fly anywhere from Heathrow and it makes no sense for me to go via any other European hub.

That said, if you live North of the Watford gap you'll most likely get a cheaper flight to almost anywhere going via Amsterdam of Frankfurt.


Question for the Northerners:
If there was a train line to Heathrow, from Newcastle (or Manchest or Liverpool) which would get you directly to the airport in under 2 hours, would you use it? I'm thinking of a high speed line, from the north through Heathrow and into Paddington.

[expat]

Crossrail is going to have a spur to Heathrow.

Heathrow is lovely for me as I live about 15-45 minute drive away (depending on time of day).

You can pretty much fly anywhere from Heathrow and it makes no sense for me to go via any other European hub.

That said, if you live North of the Watford gap you'll most likely get a cheaper flight to almost anywhere going via Amsterdam of Frankfurt.


Question for the Northerners:
If there was a train line to Heathrow, from Newcastle (or Manchest or Liverpool) which would get you directly to the airport in under 2 hours, would you use it? I'm thinking of a high speed line, from the north through Heathrow and into Paddington.

Well, I live south of the Watford Gap but north of Watford, and I'd welcome a way of getting directly to the airport in under 2 hours!

[swamp]

Crossrail is going to have a spur to Heathrow.

True, Heathrow will eventually be connected to Kings Cross, which is the main station for London and indeed England.

Shame we'll have to wait 20 years.

[Sysman]

Question for the Northerners:
If there was a train line to Heathrow, from Newcastle (or Manchest or Liverpool) which would get you directly to the airport in under 2 hours, would you use it? I'm thinking of a high speed line, from the north through Heathrow and into Paddington.

At today's rail prices, probably not. If I need to hit Heathrow, the plane is a better bet.

[Sysman]

So other than Londoners, or people flying just to visit London, who else would want to use it?

Didn't you know that it is every Englishman's dream to live in London?

At least that's what the propaganda machine that is London (Beeb, rest of the meedja etc) has been telling me all my life.

I beg to differ.

[BoredBloke]

Crossrail is going to have a spur to Heathrow.

Heathrow is lovely for me as I live about 15-45 minute drive away (depending on time of day).

You can pretty much fly anywhere from Heathrow and it makes no sense for me to go via any other European hub.

That said, if you live North of the Watford gap you'll most likely get a cheaper flight to almost anywhere going via Amsterdam of Frankfurt.


Question for the Northerners:
If there was a train line to Heathrow, from Newcastle (or Manchest or Liverpool) which would get you directly to the airport in under 2 hours, would you use it? I'm thinking of a high speed line, from the north through Heathrow and into Paddington.

No I'd probably use Manchester or Leeds as the cost of the train would probably be more than the cost of the flight.

[swamp]

Didn't you know that it is every Englishman's dream to live in London?

At least that's what the propaganda machine that is London (Beeb, rest of the meedja etc) has been telling me all my life.

I beg to differ.

London is England. Well, in simple terms there are some fields and stuff known as the 'countryside' which starts somewhere past Richmond in the west and Watford in the north.

[Fred Bloggs]

No I'd probably use Manchester or Leeds as the cost of the train would probably be more than the cost of the flight.

Given that the tax on flights often exceeds the cost of the flight itself, then the actual flight is the smallest part of such a trip. Only Gordon Brown and nulabour could ever bring that about, but he has. Having a tax that exceeds the cost of the purchase is immoral IMO.

[pmeswani]

So its no good for anyone then - can we close it down?

You are more than welcome to close down the Picadilly Line.... but I am ok with Heathrow.. 1 bus journey from where I live to Heathrow in 1 hour... or a car journey (courtesy of my parents) in 30 minutes. No need to scrap Heathrow thanks.

[MPwannadecentincome]

You are more than welcome to close down the Picadilly Line.... but I am ok with Heathrow.. 1 bus journey from where I live to Heathrow in 1 hour... or a car journey (courtesy of my parents) in 30 minutes. No need to scrap Heathrow thanks.

OK we'll leave it open just for you.

And me - I'm flying from T5 next week