I need to get from Heathrow T2,3 to Stratford on 9 May. I figure the easiest is the Elizabeth Line.
How far can I go on the Elizabeth line before I have to change? Whitechapel?
The TFL journey planner is giving me mixed messages--sometimes it says change at Bond Street. Other time it says Whitechapel. Although I'm thinking I'll have more options at Bond Street.
Yep, welcome to the joys of the Journey Planner! All the options are feasible - Changing at Whitechapel means taking another overground (ie rail)) train to Stratford. As a Londoner who lives at the other end of the Central line, my instinct would be to change at Bond St, Tottenham Court Rd or Liverpool Street stations onto the Central line eastbound to Stratford.
I don’t know how mobile you are, ie if you have to consider the distances walked, but I found the distance from the far end of the Elizabeth Line platform to the Central line platforms much further than I expected or was comfortable with. I haven’t changed at either of the other two stations but you might also want to take into consideration the walking times involved.
EL via Farringdon - £12.80 51 minutes if it's leaving as you get on, could be slower.
Underground £5.50 Piccadilly to Green Park, Jubilee to Stratford, 1h15minutes
I was going to take the Elizabeth line strictly because I have never taken it.
But it also has me thinking.....where is the Elizabeth line station at Stratford? Is it within the other tube lines or some distant location?
From later in May there will be some Elizabeth line trains direct from Heathrow to Stratford and on to Shenfield but not on 9th.
On 9th the Shenfield trains start at Paddington. You can change to a Shenfield train at any station between Paddington and Whitechapel - just get off and wait on the platform for the next Shenfield train.
I have been finding the trains get very busy the nearer to Stratford they get so I would be inclined to make the change at Paddington to increase your chance of a seat. On the other hand if you are comfortable at Paddington maybe you could change at Whitechapel. Even if you can’t get a seat it’s only one stop and a few minutes to Stratford.
As above that route is more expensive than tube all the way but the comfort is much better and the change much easier.
Frank - the Elizabeth line platforms at Stratford are right in the centre of the regular station. They come in alongside the Central line tube trains for ease of transfer from one to the other. That bit of the line is what used to be the TFL service from Shenfield to Liverpool St and in fact the route has been using Elizabeth line trains for several years. If you have used TFL before you quite likely have been on one. They were ordered for when Crossrail was originally due to be open and so we’re delivered several years ago.
I'll plan on the Elizabeth line all the way with a change. Where depends on how crowded it is.
But, as I'm also a frequent user of TFL, I'll check train status when I land at Heathrow.
I land at T3 at 6 PM (18:00), a quick trip through the egates (hopefully) and then on to the trains.
Frank - by the time you get to changing trains the rush hour should be fading, so I would expect no particular issues with crowding, although it never seems to be quiet!
