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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

*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

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.

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