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Save/ShareA bit of news from Heathrow Express, the train that runs between Heathrow airport and London's Paddington Station (I'm just going to quote the press release because, well, I guess I'm feeling lazy after the long weekend):
"From 31 May, all customers who buy their Heathrow Express tickets online can receive a barcode either via email or direct to a designated mobile phone that can then be scanned on the train, creating a seamless service by taking the hassle out queuing at ticket machines or ticket desks. All you need to do is book online and board the train straight away."
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This is great! I can book online with my iPhone (using it's internet connection), email the receipt which I can open on the iPhone's email handler and display the barcode for scanning without ever having to interrupt my progress to deal with a window ("ticket" or desktop).
Posted By Jonathan Greenlee on May 29, 2008, 2:13 PM
Might try this, for my high-pointing tour round N. Europe this summer. So far, all efforts to book Scotrail's `Caledonian Sleeper' Euston-Ft. William on line have failed because it only works with UK post codes! They're supposed to fix this example of poor programming so keep trying I guess; ETD is 07 July, nonstop DEN-LHR on UA.
Posted By Roger A.C. Williamsr on May 29, 2008, 4:00 PM
Hi, Roger,
That sounds like an exciting trip. Thanks for posting a comment to our blog. I have forwarded the question to the man who runs a train information website in Britain.
Will get back to you.
Regards,
Sean
Posted By Sean on May 30, 2008, 12:20 PM
Dear Roger,
To follow up on your unsuccessful efforts to book Scotrail's `Caledonian Sleeper' Euston-Ft. William online...
I asked the top expert on such issues, Mark Smith of the website The Man in Seat Sixty-One
http://www.seat61.com/ for his opinion. Here's what he says:
"As I explain on my site on Caledonian Ser page(seat61.com/CaledonianSleepers.htm), Thetrainline.com (which powers ScotRail et al) won't accept non-UK credit cards, so simply book by phone by calling ScotRail from overseas on +44 1752 675 670 (open daily 0800-2200 UK time)
Only one retailer, RailEasy.co.uk, WILL accept non-UK credit cards (with ticket collection at the station), but at the moment WON'T sell sleepers, only daytime trains. But they expect to add sleeper booking functionality any time now. Then overseas passengers can book online."
--Mark Smith
Hope that helps,
Sean,
Blog editor
Posted By Sean on June 2, 2008, 10:20 AM
Budget travellers should know that there is a competitive train that travels on the same tracks, makes a few more stops, takes maybe 10 minutes longer, and is WAY cheaper. You can buy tickets very easily at machines. I was there in April and there were no queues for machines. So unless you are madly trying to get to a business meeting or a train connection, don't use Heathrow Express, which has become ridiculously expensive in US or Canadian dollars. And of course if you have plenty of time, London Transport, the largest public transit system in the world, runs right into Heathrow and can take you to the west end. (Buy an Oyster card -- read all about it online.)
Posted By Sandra on June 21, 2008, 10:20 PM
Sandra -
I'm very interested in this alternative to the Heathrow Express, but you don't name it in your comment. Is there a site I can visit or a name you could give me so I can look up fares and such so as to make it a viable option for travel into central London upon my arrival in Heathrow?
Posted By Tricia on July 16, 2008, 1:48 PM