Watford to Heathrow
 

There used to be a very convenient Virgin bus running between Watford
and Heathrow. It no longer runs but there is a Geenline (?) bus: slow
and with inadequate baggage facilities. Is there a convenient train
plus underground route? No stairs please because the passenger will
have both a suitcase and an over-night bag to carry.
--
Which of the seven heavens / Was responsible her smile /
Wouldn't be sure but attested / That, whoever it was, a god /
Worth kneeling-to for a while / Had tabernacled and rested.

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Jul 1, 11:39*am, Frederick Williams
wrote:
There used to be a very convenient Virgin bus running between Watford
and Heathrow. *It no longer runs but there is a Geenline (?) bus: slow
and with inadequate baggage facilities. *Is there a convenient train
plus underground route? *No stairs please because the passenger will
have both a suitcase and an over-night bag to carry.

It's Green Line (http://www.greenline.co.uk/) not Geenline - it's
route 724, and is an express bus service that stops at four places
between Watford and Heathrow. It takes an hour and a quarter or so, a
bit longer during peak times when traffic will be heavier. The actual
bus used is a single decker which has extra luggage racks fitted so as
to cater for flyers heading to or from Heathrow.

The timetable is available from the Green Line website here (PDF):
http://tinyurl.com/lpm2go

Otherwise, if you're trying to do it without stairs then it's a bit
fiddly. From Watford to Euston one would take the train, then from
Euston one could take the 205 bus - which stops on the other side of
Euston Road - to get to Paddington, and then take either the Heathrow
Express (pricey) or Heathrow Connect (cheaper, but only half-hourly
and takes a bit longer) to Heathrow. Or otherwise take a cab from
Euston to Paddington.

If a step-free option is important, I think I'd recommend just taking
that 724 express bus. None of the various Underground options are
entirely step-free.

Where's the passengers starting point - is it Watford or elsewhere? If
it's elsewhere there may be other options.

Watford to Heathrow
 

On 1 July, 12:31, Mizter T wrote:
None of the various Underground options are entirely step-free.

You can take the hourly Southern service from Watford Junction to West
Brompton. Walk across the platform to a District Line train one stop
to Earl's Court, where there are lifts to the Piccadilly Line, which
goes to Heathrow. Allow 2 hours all in.

Because West Brompton doesn't have a full set of lifts, to do the
reverse journey you need to catch a District Line train from Earl's
Court to Kensington Olympia instead (beware these are a bit less
frequent than other tube trains - worst case a 20 minute wait), where
the District Line platform is adjacent to the northbound mainline
platform (and therefore there are no steps), for the Southern service
to Watford Junction.

U

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Jul 1, 1:13*pm, Mr Thant
wrote:

On 1 July, 12:31, Mizter T wrote:

None of the various Underground options are entirely step-free.

You can take the hourly Southern service from Watford Junction to West
Brompton. Walk across the platform to a District Line train one stop
to Earl's Court, where there are lifts to the Piccadilly Line, which
goes to Heathrow. Allow 2 hours all in.

Because West Brompton doesn't have a full set of lifts, to do the
reverse journey you need to catch a District Line train from Earl's
Court to Kensington Olympia instead (beware these are a bit less
frequent than other tube trains - worst case a 20 minute wait), where
the District Line platform is adjacent to the northbound mainline
platform (and therefore there are no steps), for the Southern service
to Watford Junction.

Very good, clever stuff. Though in this situation I think I'd probably
still recommend taking the bus from Watford - one vehicle all the way
meaning less hassle.

However, your route could work out quite well for some travellers, for
example those with less baggage, especially as one can completely cut
out the District line element by simply walking the 0.2 miles between
West Brompton and Earl's Court stations at street level via Eardley
Crescent - it's likely one would walk further than this within the
bowels of Heathrow, after all.

For reference, here's a street map:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/oldmap.sr...&y=178250&ar=N

Watford to Heathrow
 

Mr Thant wrote:

On 1 July, 12:31, Mizter T wrote:
None of the various Underground options are entirely step-free.

You can take the hourly Southern service from Watford Junction to West
Brompton. Walk across the platform to a District Line train one stop
to Earl's Court, where there are lifts to the Piccadilly Line, which
goes to Heathrow. Allow 2 hours all in.

Because West Brompton doesn't have a full set of lifts, to do the
reverse journey you need to catch a District Line train from Earl's
Court to Kensington Olympia instead (beware these are a bit less
frequent than other tube trains - worst case a 20 minute wait), where
the District Line platform is adjacent to the northbound mainline
platform (and therefore there are no steps), for the Southern service
to Watford Junction.

U

Thank you, that sounds like a good idea. I'll try it next time I need
to make the journey.

--
Which of the seven heavens / Was responsible her smile /
Wouldn't be sure but attested / That, whoever it was, a god /
Worth kneeling-to for a while / Had tabernacled and rested.

Watford to Heathrow
 

*Is there a convenient train
plus underground route? *No stairs please because the passenger will
have both a suitcase and an over-night bag to carry.


The passenger could get the London Midland/Southern service from
Watford Junction (Lifts available) to Harrow Wealdstone (99% of the
time this comes into platform 6) ramp available, then cross the road
and get on the 140 bus to Heathrow? No stairs needed here!

Burkey

Watford to Heathrow
 

burkey wrote:

Is there a convenient train
plus underground route? No stairs please because the passenger will
have both a suitcase and an over-night bag to carry.

The passenger could get the London Midland/Southern service from
Watford Junction (Lifts available) to Harrow Wealdstone (99% of the
time this comes into platform 6) ramp available, then cross the road
and get on the 140 bus to Heathrow? No stairs needed here!

Does the bus have proper storage for luggage? Will the driver or
conductor help with the handling of luggage? The Green Line 724 fails
on these counts and swapping one such bus for another like it is no
advantage.

--
Which of the seven heavens / Was responsible her smile /
Wouldn't be sure but attested / That, whoever it was, a god /
Worth kneeling-to for a while / Had tabernacled and rested.

Watford to Heathrow
 

In message , Frederick Williams
writes

Does the bus have proper storage for luggage? Will the driver or
conductor help with the handling of luggage?

The 140 is operated by large double-deckers with ample space for a
suitcase and overnight bag in the luggage area, but you won't get help
in loading it from the bus driver, any more than you would from a train
driver when using the railways - your friend needs a minicab if that
type of service is required.

--
Paul Terry

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Jul 1, 4:01*pm, Paul Terry wrote:

In message , Frederick Williams
writes

Does the bus have proper storage for luggage? *Will the driver or
conductor help with the handling of luggage?

The 140 is operated by large double-deckers with ample space for a
suitcase and overnight bag in the luggage area, but you won't get help
in loading it from the bus driver, any more than you would from a train
driver when using the railways - your friend needs a minicab if that
type of service is required.

Just for the sake of clarity, the 140 is a normal London bus route
(and there's no express element to it). It is operated by standard
London double decker buses.

Watford to Heathrow
 

Mizter T wrote:

On Jul 1, 1:13=A0pm, Mr Thant
wrote:

On 1 July, 12:31, Mizter T wrote:

None of the various Underground options are entirely step-free.

You can take the hourly Southern service from Watford Junction to West
Brompton. Walk across the platform to a District Line train one stop
to Earl's Court, where there are lifts to the Piccadilly Line, which
goes to Heathrow. Allow 2 hours all in.

Because West Brompton doesn't have a full set of lifts, to do the
reverse journey you need to catch a District Line train from Earl's
Court to Kensington Olympia instead (beware these are a bit less
frequent than other tube trains - worst case a 20 minute wait), where
the District Line platform is adjacent to the northbound mainline
platform (and therefore there are no steps), for the Southern service
to Watford Junction.

Very good, clever stuff. Though in this situation I think I'd probably
still recommend taking the bus from Watford - one vehicle all the way
meaning less hassle.


Agreed. I think the bus also calls at all the terminals, and minimises
the amount of walking involved.

Like you, I would have suggested train to Euston, taxi to Paddington and
Connect/Express from there, but there are some long underground walks
needed at the airport depending on which terminal the OP is flying from.

So bus seems best.

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Wed, 1 Jul 2009 07:22:28 -0700 (PDT), burkey
wrote:

The passenger could get the London Midland/Southern service from
Watford Junction (Lifts available) to Harrow Wealdstone (99% of the
time this comes into platform 6) ramp available, then cross the road
and get on the 140 bus to Heathrow? No stairs needed here!

I didn't know about that one - thanks!

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Watford to Heathrow
 

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:42:26 +0100, Tony Polson
wrote:

If delays are especially bad the service will be cut short - not much
use if you have a plane to catch.

Useful to know.

From MK itself last time I used National Express (coach) - this wasn't
too slow nor too expensive (though I wasn't paying). The only
downside is a relatively low frequency and the possibility of getting
stuck if your flight is late.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Jul 1, 10:42*pm, Tony Polson wrote:
(Neil Williams) wrote:
On Wed, 1 Jul 2009 07:22:28 -0700 (PDT), burkey
wrote:

The passenger could get the London Midland/Southern service from
Watford Junction (Lifts available) to Harrow Wealdstone (99% of the
time this comes into platform 6) ramp available, then cross the road
and get on the 140 bus to Heathrow? No stairs needed here!

I didn't know about that one - thanks!

It takes ages and, depending on the time of day, can be heavily delayed
by traffic in Harrow, Northolt and Hayes. *

If delays are especially bad the service will be cut short - not much
use if you have a plane to catch.

It does run half-hourly through the night though, with a journey time
of 41 minutes.
Might be an idea for an 'earlyish' flight?

Watford to Heathrow
 

burkey wrote:
On Jul 1, 10:42*pm, Tony Polson wrote:
(Neil Williams) wrote:
On Wed, 1 Jul 2009 07:22:28 -0700 (PDT), burkey
wrote:

The passenger could get the London Midland/Southern service from
Watford Junction (Lifts available) to Harrow Wealdstone (99% of the
time this comes into platform 6) ramp available, then cross the road
and get on the 140 bus to Heathrow? No stairs needed here!

I didn't know about that one - thanks!

It takes ages and, depending on the time of day, can be heavily delayed
by traffic in Harrow, Northolt and Hayes. *

If delays are especially bad the service will be cut short - not much
use if you have a plane to catch.

It does run half-hourly through the night though, with a journey time
of 41 minutes.
Might be an idea for an 'earlyish' flight?


That's true.

Watford to Heathrow
 

Tony Polson wrote:

Mizter T wrote:

On Jul 1, 1:13=A0pm, Mr Thant
wrote:



Very good, clever stuff. Though in this situation I think I'd probably
still recommend taking the bus from Watford - one vehicle all the way
meaning less hassle.

Agreed. I think the bus also calls at all the terminals, and minimises
the amount of walking involved.

No it doesn't but the Virgin bus used to. The Green Line 724 calls at
the central bus station and terminals 4 and 5.


So bus seems best.

It's because I've tried it that I'm seeking an alternative.

--
Which of the seven heavens / Was responsible her smile /
Wouldn't be sure but attested / That, whoever it was, a god /
Worth kneeling-to for a while / Had tabernacled and rested.

Watford to Heathrow
 

Paul Terry wrote:

In message , Frederick Williams
writes

Does the bus have proper storage for luggage? Will the driver or
conductor help with the handling of luggage?

The 140 is operated by large double-deckers with ample space for a
suitcase and overnight bag in the luggage area, but you won't get help
in loading it from the bus driver,

The reason I asked is that the Virgin bus driver always helped!

any more than you would from a train
driver when using the railways - your friend needs a minicab if that
type of service is required.

--
Paul Terry


--
Which of the seven heavens / Was responsible her smile /
Wouldn't be sure but attested / That, whoever it was, a god /
Worth kneeling-to for a while / Had tabernacled and rested.

Watford to Heathrow
 

Neil Williams wrote:

On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:42:26 +0100, Tony Polson
wrote:

If delays are especially bad the service will be cut short - not much
use if you have a plane to catch.

Useful to know.

From MK itself last time I used National Express (coach) - this wasn't
too slow nor too expensive (though I wasn't paying).

Now, there's a thought: train from Watford to MK, coach from MK to
Heathrow!

The only
downside is a relatively low frequency and the possibility of getting
stuck if your flight is late.

Neil

--
Which of the seven heavens / Was responsible her smile /
Wouldn't be sure but attested / That, whoever it was, a god /
Worth kneeling-to for a while / Had tabernacled and rested.

Watford to Heathrow
 

Frederick Williams wrote:
Tony Polson wrote:
I think the bus also calls at all the terminals, and minimises
the amount of walking involved.

No it doesn't but the Virgin bus used to. The Green Line 724 calls at
the central bus station and terminals 4 and 5.


Thanks for the correction.

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Jul 2, 10:28*am, Frederick Williams
wrote:

Paul Terry wrote:

In message , Frederick Williams
writes

Does the bus have proper storage for luggage? *Will the driver or
conductor help with the handling of luggage?

The 140 is operated by large double-deckers with ample space for a
suitcase and overnight bag in the luggage area, but you won't get help
in loading it from the bus driver,

The reason I asked is that the Virgin bus driver always helped!

It was a 'proper' coach, so the luggage got loaded into 'the hold'
didn't it?

(What is the proper name of that luggage space on a coach?)

Watford to Heathrow
 

Mizter T wrote:

On Jul 2, 10:28 am, Frederick Williams
wrote:

The reason I asked is that the Virgin bus driver always helped!

It was a 'proper' coach, so the luggage got loaded into 'the hold'
didn't it?

Originally it was a minibus. I mean it looked like a minibus, what it
was called officially, I don't know. The minibus was then replaced by a
full-sized coach (for carrying three or four passengers!). The minibus
driver and the coach driver (they might even have been the same bloke)
both helped.

--
Which of the seven heavens / Was responsible her smile /
Wouldn't be sure but attested / That, whoever it was, a god /
Worth kneeling-to for a while / Had tabernacled and rested.

Watford to Heathrow
 

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...

Mizter T wrote:

So bus seems best.

It's because I've tried it that I'm seeking an alternative.

It suspect any option via rail or underground is going to be worse than the
bus. This is certainly the case getting from Brighton/Gatwick to Heathrow,
where the coach is a lot more civilised than rail and underground if you've
got luggage to deal with.

D A Stocks

Watford to Heathrow
 

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
Tony Polson wrote:

Mizter T wrote:

On Jul 1, 1:13=A0pm, Mr Thant

wrote:



Very good, clever stuff. Though in this situation I think I'd
probably
still recommend taking the bus from Watford - one vehicle all the
way
meaning less hassle.

Agreed. I think the bus also calls at all the terminals, and
minimises
the amount of walking involved.

No it doesn't but the Virgin bus used to. The Green Line 724 calls
at
the central bus station and terminals 4 and 5.


Not anymore. Latest timetable i've seen only shows it serving Central
Bus station and Terminal 5. Seemingly the T4 stop has been dropped.

Watford to Heathrow
 

In article , (David
A Stocks) wrote:

"Frederick Williams" wrote in
message ...

Mizter T wrote:

So bus seems best.

It's because I've tried it that I'm seeking an alternative.

It suspect any option via rail or underground is going to be worse
than the bus. This is certainly the case getting from
Brighton/Gatwick to Heathrow, where the coach is a lot more
civilised than rail and underground if you've got luggage to deal
with.

The words "coach" and "civilised" don't belong in the same sentence IME.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Jul 3, 12:35*am, wrote:

In article , (David

A Stocks) wrote:
"Frederick Williams" wrote in
...

Mizter T wrote:

So bus seems best.

It's because I've tried it that I'm seeking an alternative.

It suspect any option via rail or underground is going to be worse
than the bus. This is certainly the case getting from
Brighton/Gatwick to Heathrow, where the coach is a lot more
civilised than rail and underground if you've got luggage to deal
with.

The words "coach" and "civilised" don't belong in the same sentence IME.

Absolute total and unmitigated ********, to be blunt.

Watford to Heathrow
 

In article
,
(Mizter T) wrote:

On Jul 3, 12:35*am, wrote:

In article ,
(David

A Stocks) wrote:
"Frederick Williams" wrote in
...

Mizter T wrote:

So bus seems best.

It's because I've tried it that I'm seeking an alternative.

It suspect any option via rail or underground is going to be worse
than the bus. This is certainly the case getting from
Brighton/Gatwick to Heathrow, where the coach is a lot more
civilised than rail and underground if you've got luggage to deal
with.

The words "coach" and "civilised" don't belong in the same
sentence IME.

Absolute total and unmitigated ********, to be blunt.

We clearly disagree. Hate the bloody things, especially when I'm expecting
a train.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:41:17 -0700 (PDT)
Mizter T wrote:
The words "coach" and "civilised" don't belong in the same sentence IME.

Absolute total and unmitigated ********, to be blunt.

Compared to trains buses/coaches are cramped, noisy, slow, bouncy and frequently
hot.

B2003

Watford to Heathrow
 

wrote in message
...
In article , (David
A Stocks) wrote:

"Frederick Williams" wrote in
message ...

Mizter T wrote:

So bus seems best.

It's because I've tried it that I'm seeking an alternative.

It suspect any option via rail or underground is going to be worse
than the bus. This is certainly the case getting from
Brighton/Gatwick to Heathrow, where the coach is a lot more
civilised than rail and underground if you've got luggage to deal
with.

The words "coach" and "civilised" don't belong in the same sentence IME.


I think I must have tried most of the options to/from Heathrow. A lot
depends on time of day but, broadly speaking they go as follows in order of
civilisation from best to worst:

1. Virgin Upper Class Limo (obviously I wasn't paying)
2. Drive + Underground (i.e. park near a suitable Picadilly Line station)
3. Cab + [Train to Gatwick +] Coach
4. Drive + airport parking
5. Cab + Train + Bus + Heathrow Express
6. Cab + Train + Underground via Victoria
7. Cab + Train + Underground via Blackfriars (probably worth trying again
when the station has been rebuilt)

DAS

Watford to Heathrow
 

On 3 July, 01:02, wrote:
In article
,





(Mizter T) wrote:
On Jul 3, 12:35*am, wrote:

In article ,
(David

A Stocks) wrote:
"Frederick Williams" wrote in
...

Mizter T wrote:

So bus seems best.

It's because I've tried it that I'm seeking an alternative.

It suspect any option via rail or underground is going to be worse
than the bus. This is certainly the case getting from
Brighton/Gatwick to Heathrow, where the coach is a lot more
civilised than rail and underground if you've got luggage to deal
with.

The words "coach" and "civilised" don't belong in the same
sentence IME.

Absolute total and unmitigated ********, to be blunt.

We clearly disagree. Hate the bloody things, especially when I'm expecting
a train.

Was he disagreeing with you or redrafting your response?

The advantage of the coach is that it presumably takes you direct to
Heathrow, with no stairs and escalators.

Heathrow is relatively badly served by trains from most directions,
and central London is badly served by coaches from all directions
(traffic jams, Victoria Coach Station ...).

Watford to Heathrow
 

wrote in message ...

Compared to trains buses/coaches are cramped, noisy, slow, bouncy and
frequently
hot.

And full of pond life!

Ian

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:35:39 +0100, "Matt Wheeler"
wrote:

Not anymore. Latest timetable i've seen only shows it serving Central
Bus station and Terminal 5. Seemingly the T4 stop has been dropped.

T4 is becoming a bit of a pain in the backside to get to/from these
days, particularly as HEx can't be arsed to publicise the timetable
for their infrequent service from there to T123, and it's a rather
long walk at both ends.

A shuttle bus wouldn't cost all that much - perhaps there is a need
for one. (There is a public bus, but that is also quite infrequent
and the passenger information is atrocious)

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:31:45 +0100, Frederick Williams
wrote:

Now, there's a thought: train from Watford to MK, coach from MK to
Heathrow!

Which would be fine, but you'd need a bus or taxi ride in the middle
to take you to Campbell Park for the "interim coachway".

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Jul 3, 7:52*pm, (Neil Williams)
wrote:

On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:35:39 +0100, "Matt Wheeler"

wrote:
Not anymore. Latest timetable i've seen only shows it serving Central
Bus station and Terminal 5. Seemingly the T4 stop has been dropped.

T4 is becoming a bit of a pain in the backside to get to/from these
days, particularly as HEx can't be arsed to publicise the timetable
for their infrequent service from there to T123, and it's a rather
long walk at both ends.

The timetable might not be publicised - but Heathrow Connect provides
a 4tph link between Heathrow T123 and T4 stations - e.g., see the T123
departures towards T4 on th LDB he
http://realtime.nationalrail.co.uk/l...px?T=HXX&S=HAF

Heathrow Connect runs half hourly from Paddington of course, but once
an HC train reaches T4 it then provides a run from T4 back to T123,
then reverses back to T4, before reversing again to provide a full
through service from T4 via T123 to Paddington. The gaps between
services are 8 minutes and 22 minutes, which I guess makes some sense
from a timetabling point of view.

Very quickly glancing at the full arrivals and departures LDB screen
for Heathrow T123 station, it appears that at least some of these HC
departures for T4 dovetail in with HEx arrivals from Paddington - but
I haven't worked out the pattern. See:
http://realtime.nationalrail.co.uk/l...ion.aspx?T=HXX


A shuttle bus wouldn't cost all that much - perhaps there is a need
for one. * (There is a public bus, but that is also quite infrequent
and the passenger information is atrocious)

Which bus is that? The only bus I can see on the TfL bus spider maps
that directly links Heathrow Central bus station (for T123) and T4 is
the infrequent Green Line 724 route - and that's now out of date, as
the 724 now visits Heathrow Central before going on to terminate at
T5.

However there are two London buses that link T5 with T4 - routes 482
and 490, the former being every 15 mins during the day, the latter
"every 10-13 mins" - so that might be an option. The "Heathrow
Freeflow" free bus travel arrangements mean you don't need to pay.

The Heathrow T4 bus spider map is here (PDF):
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaro...nal4-14075.pdf

Incidentally, I agree that information about bus and coach services at
Heathrow Central *used* to be absolutely atrocious - it seems BAA
decided they'd do it all themselves, and did a really shoddy job of
it, and there weren't even any TfL bus spider maps on display -
nowadays I think it is very much improved. The change happened when
National Express took over responsibility for running Heathrow Central
bus and coach station - there's a fairly new building for passengers
to wait in, along with coach ticket sales desks and an information
desk (and also a special rail ticket sales desk, run by NX, for the
benefit of those pax wishing to connect to trains by RailAir coaches).
Overall signage is much better now. And TfL bus spider maps have
appeared! Though I think they might only be located near the local bus
stands - I've a feeling they don't appear in the main bus station
building, which is a shame,

Watford to Heathrow
 

On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 01:45:38 -0700 (PDT), Mizter T
wrote:

Which bus is that? The only bus I can see on the TfL bus spider maps
that directly links Heathrow Central bus station (for T123) and T4 is
the infrequent Green Line 724 route - and that's now out of date, as
the 724 now visits Heathrow Central before going on to terminate at
T5.

Two hundred and something, I think. I forget, but it was on the stops
when I was last at T4, but I declined to use it as I'd just missed
one.

[T123 bus station]
there's a fairly new building for passengers
to wait in

There is, and it's quite nice - but quite unusual in appearing to have
an inflatable roof!

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Watford to Heathrow
 

Mizter T wrote

The timetable might not be publicised - but Heathrow Connect provides
a 4tph link between Heathrow T123 and T4 stations - e.g., see the T123
departures towards T4 on th LDB he
http://realtime.nationalrail.co.uk/l...px?T=HXX&S=HAF

[...]
A shuttle bus wouldn't cost all that much - perhaps there is a need
for one. * (There is a public bus, but that is also quite infrequent
and the passenger information is atrocious)

Which bus is that? The only bus I can see on the TfL bus spider maps
that directly links Heathrow Central bus station (for T123) and T4 is
the infrequent Green Line 724 route - and that's now out of date, as
the 724 now visits Heathrow Central before going on to terminate at T5.

Probably a reference to the 555, two an hour for most of 0445-2205 -
not Tfl but
still covered by "Heathrow Freeflow" area free bus travel

In fact the 701(Woking) RailAir coach also links Heathrow Central bus
station (for T123) and T4, two an hour from 0545 to 2300)

The similar non-Tfl 441 directly links Heathrow Central bus station
(for T123) and T5, two an hour from 0500 to 2210.

(555 is Heathrow-T4-Walton-on-Thames; 441 Heathrow-T5-Egham-Englefield
Green, both Travel Surrey, both BAA supported).

However there are two London buses that link T5 with T4 - routes 482
and 490, the former being every 15 mins during the day, the latter
"every 10-13 mins" - so that might be an option. The "Heathrow
Freeflow" free bus travel arrangements mean you don't need to pay.

--
Mike D