A joint report from Sadiq Khan and Transport for London has called on the government to decide whether the current Heathrow Express is the best use of “valuable” train paths into Paddington
Sir Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) said the future of Heathrow Express should be “reconsidered” in light of the Elizabeth line’s success. The Mayor of London and TfL have called on the government to decide whether the current service is the best use of “valuable” train paths into Paddington station.
The joint report regarding the expansion of Heathrow Airport does not explicitly call on the route to be axed, but it does say alternative options should be considered that can increase ridership at a lower cost to customers at the airport.
Heathrow Express is owned by the airport’s managing company itself, but currently outsources its day-to-day operation to Great Western Railway. The current service contract was signed in 2018 and is due to expire in 2028.
The Elizabeth line has become TfL’s key route from Central London to Heathrow since it opened in 2022. Ten more trains are due to enter service throughout 2026 and 2027 ahead of the HS2’s launch from Old Oak Common, which will potentially bolster services heading towards the airport.
During the same period TfL will roll out the new fleet of 94 Piccadilly line trains – the cheapest but longest route to Heathrow. This will boost capacity on the Tube service and make it a more attractive option for Tube passengers.
An off-peak Piccadilly line service from Zone 1 to Heathrow currently costs £5.90 taking roughly an hour, compared to 30-40 minute journey on the Elizabeth line for £15.50 and 15-minute journey on the Heathrow Express for £26 – although these tickets can be bought in advance.
Heathrow Airport has hit back at City Hall and TfL for suggesting ridership on its express route is “steadily falling”, instead citing a year-on-year increase from 4.3m passengers in 2024 to 4.5m in 2025. It added that the Heathrow Express provides a different service to the current Elizabeth and Piccadilly line connections by offering dedicated luggage space and on-board toilets, believing all three routes work in tandem to encourage more passengers to travel to Heathrow via public transport.
Heathrow Express Business Lead, Aoife Considine, said: “Ridership on Heathrow Express rose to 4.5 million last year, demonstrating its enduring popularity amongst travellers. Passengers value our convenient, direct service – twice as quick as the Elizabeth Line – and this is reflected in the latest Rail Customer Experience national survey, where Heathrow Express achieved 90% passenger satisfaction and ranked among the top performers in the UK for value for money.”
The Department for Transport has confirmed it is engaging with Heathrow Airport Limited in regards to the future operator of Heathrow Express services.
A spokesperson said: “No decision has yet been made on the future operator of the Heathrow Express. The current franchise exemption ends in 2028 and a decision will be announced in due course.”
Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, TfL, said: “With limited capacity on the Great Western Main Line (GWML) and competing demands from a number of train services, the focus must be on using it in a way that benefits the most passengers and improves reliability.
“As customers increasingly choose the Elizabeth line for its frequent, direct services, and with Heathrow Express’s current GWML access ending in 2028, we are working with the Government, Network Rail and other stakeholders to consider how best these train paths are used.”
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