V-Flyer

Hi everyone thought you might like to see the info which landed on my desk this afternoon...

Best wishes to all for a great Christmas
Flo

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Dear Tour Operator

Please note the latest update from Transport for London.

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Tube passengers travelling to and from Heathrow Terminal 4 will be using a dedicated bus shuttle at Hatton Cross from January 7, 2005 for 20 months.

The change from Tube to bus is to allow for construction of the Piccadilly line extension to the new BAA Heathrow Terminal 5. London Underground's (LU) Heathrow Terminal 4 station will remain closed during the work.

Piccadilly line services will continue to run direct to and from central London to Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3 station. The change will mean a slightly increased journey time to Terminal 4 of five to ten minutes. But it will actually cut journey times by Tube to Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3 by a few minutes.

However, on Saturday and Sunday January 8 & 9, 2005 only, there will be no service on the Piccadilly line in either direction to Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3 and Terminal 4 beyond Hatton Cross. This is to allow essential safety work on points and signalling.

For those two days there will be four rail replacement bus and coach services:

Bus Service A: Hatton Cross - Heathrow Terminals 1,2 & 3 (non-stop)

Bus Service B: Hatton Cross -Heathrow Terminal 4 (non-stop)

Coach Service C: Acton Town - Heathrow Terminal 1,2&3 (non-stop)

Coach Service D: Acton Town - Heathrow Terminal 4 (non-stop)

Passengers travelling locally between stations west of Acton Town and Heathrow Airport are advised to board the first available west bound train and change at Hatton Cross for Bus Service A (for Terminals 1,2 & 3) or Bus Service B (for Terminal 4).

Customers travelling between central London and Heathrow Airport are advised to board the first available westbound train and change at Acton Town for Coach Service C (for Terminals 1,2, & 3) or Coach Service D (for Terminal 4).

Porters will be provided at Acton Town, Hatton Cross, Heathrow Terminal 2 and Heathrow Terminal 4 to help passengers load and unload their luggage on the bus and coach services.

Piccadilly line General Manager, Mike Challis said:
"Around 2,500 people travel to and from Terminal 4 by Tube each day. We will have a dedicated bus shuttle service in place that means those journeys will only take about five minutes longer than now.

"Currently, around 22,000 people use the Tube to get to and from Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3 each day and they will actually be getting there a little faster over the 20 months, as the trains will be going directly to Heathrow Terminal 1,2 & 3 and not round the loop stopping at Heathrow Terminal 4.

"However, on Saturday and Sunday 8 & 9 January all trains will terminate at Hatton Cross. Passengers travelling to and from Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3 and Heathrow Terminal 4 will either have to take a non-stop bus from and to Hatton Cross or a non-stop coach from Acton Town. Leaflets detailing the changes are now available at stations."

London Underground are providing a comprehensive programme of customer information, publicity and assistance. It includes amending the world-famous Tube map, providing leaflets at stations and special Tube driver and station announcements, as well as extra staff to help passengers.

Any passengers travelling to and from Terminal 4 who may have difficulty using the stairs at Hatton Cross should travel to Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3 and use the Heathrow Express Service to reach Terminal 4, which is free between Heathrow terminals. Passengers using this route should allow an extra 30 minutes to complete their journey.

When Terminal 5 opens, the Piccadilly line will run two services from central London to Heathrow terminals as follows:

Central London - T4 - T123 - Central London;

Central London - T123 - T5 - T123 - Central London.

For 24 hour information on Tube services call 020 7222 1234 or visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk.

Thanks Flo.

Shouldn't bother VS fliers too much :D

Nick

Aaah, poor BA[}:)]

quote:Originally posted by PatDavies
Aaah, poor BA[}:)]

I can see the headlines now...

Virgin passengers fly the tube. BA's take the bus!!

Phil (Buffy)

P.S. Apologies - its 8am, its still dark (and wet) outside and it's a soft target... but oh so much fun

All those F and J passengers on buses - shame BA don't have limos[}:)]

I think you'll find most BA F/J passengers on business getting cars to T4 -- all the clients I work with use car companies to the airport. In fact, the last time I flew long haul with a client ex-T4 they were rather shocked that I said I'd travel 30 mins by tube rather than spend 45 mins in a car. Plus I had the benefit that I didn't have to sit next to the client (and on the plane too -- the benefits of OLCI!)

The best thing about the VS limo service is the check-in; the car itself makes no difference to most J pax.

BC

I never use the Tube to LHR anyway. I know it's expensive, but the Heathrow Express is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned. 15mins on a gorgeous, purpose built modern train or 1hr on a cramped, overcrowded Tube...

The closure of the T4 Tube station doesn't appear to effect the T4 Heathrow Express station, so it may not have as big an impact as you might think. After all, it's free to get the Express from T1, 2 + 3 to T4 etc.