Need info for train from Heathrow to Manchester Airport

what time on the 8th? Which Heathrow terminal?

The tool I will use is https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

The basic route will be Heathrow to Elizabeth Line or Heathrow Express to Paddington then Elizabeth Line to Tottenham Court Road to Northern Line to Euston to Euston Station, Avanti train to Manchester, TPE or other train to Manchester Airport.

But time and terminal will allow honing.

Avanti is in timetable meltdown and have missed publication dates. Probably the 8th isn't up yet.

here's a start

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/London-Heathrow-Airport-LHR/Manchester-Airport-MAN#r/Train

The basic route will be Heathrow to Elizabeth Line or Heathrow Express
to Paddington then Elizabeth Line to Tottenham Court Road to Northern
Line to Euston to Euston Station, Avanti train to Manchester, TPE or
other train to Manchester Airport.

Or, bus to Reading, train to Manchester and another train to Manchester airport.

The Rome link shows all of the changes, but my question is: can I buy one ticket that will cover it all, or do I need to buy separate tickets for each phase of the trip?

Also, what if I have a reserved time and then can't make it. Does my ticket work?

Thanks

on the step by step, to Euston station from Paddington is via the Tube. Is that correct?

Honestly....I'd take a cab from Paddington to Euston instead of trying to go by tube. Yes, I realize it might be faster on the tube than overground but it's not far, there is a cab rank at the station and it will be easy, especially if you've just come off of an international flight.

I do take the tube/metro/public transit in European cities but not when trying to wrestle with luggage.

Can someone explain ticketing to me? Do I buy one ticket for Heathrow to Paddington and then another for Easton to Manchester? And should I buy it now? What about if we don’t make our reserved time?

The London Underground are called trains.

Then there are “ real “ trains. Your train from Euston to Manchester will be a high speed Avanti train.

Do you know which Heathrow terminal your flight arrives at?

Honestly to make it easy on yourselves take a cab from the airport to Euston Station.

I’d book your train ticket ( Euston to Manchester ) now but give yourselves a 3 hour minimum leeway from landing at Heathrow, deplaning, getting through immigration, securing a taxi cab and being dropped off at Euston.

I recently took the Great Western Railway (GWR) train from Cardiff to Reading where I connected with the RailAir bus to Heathrow. It stopped at T5 and T2. I was able to buy both tickets from GWR at the Cardiff train station. Some people were transferring trains to go to Manchester at Reading.

Based on using Google Maps and looking at the two transport modes, I think the easiest itinerary is to take the RailAir bus from Heathrow to Reading. And then take a CrossCountry train from Reading to Manchester Piccadilly.

The bus takes about an hour. The train takes about 3 hours 10 minutes. In both cases there are no changes. You stay on the same bus and the same train. So simple compared to other options that involve going into London.

I found no way to do a combo ticket with RailAir and CrossCountry. But you can buy the tickets for both online. And you can get the bus ticket on the bus.

This link is for RailAir:
https://www.firstbus.co.uk/railair/where-board/heathrow

This one is for CrossCountry:
https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/

BTW, do you actually want to go to Manchester Airport or to Manchester? If it's the former, you can search for that on the CrossCountry website, but it will probably involve a train change.

There are many options.

First, let's talk tickets. You need two separate tickets from Heathrow to Manchster. One, or even two, from Heathrow to Euston Station and another from Euston to Manchester.

Regarding the one from Euston to Manchester, there are two types of tickets: Advanced and Anytime. An Advanced ticket is only good for the specific train that you book. An Anytime ticket can be used anytime that day. The Advanced ticket is less expensive than the Anytime ticket. The earlier you buy the ticket, the lower the price.

For schedules, use http://www.nationalrail.co.uk

If you actually need to get to Manchester Airport, some trains from London continue on to the airport and some you will need to change in Manchester.

From Heathrow to Euston, the options are plenty, (Be aware, if you arrive in the early morning, you will be fighting rush hour traffic into London. Public transportation and the roads will be crowded.)

If you have a lot of luggage, a pre-booked car service may be a good bet. It's door to door with no walking.

The next in expense is the Heathrow Express. (Again, the earlier you buy the ticket, the lower the price. It's good all day.) This will get you to Paddington. From Paddington, you can take a cab, or get on the Circle Line (tube) to Euston Station. The Circle line will have an extra, separate cost.

You can also take the Elizabeth line to Paddington. No need to buy this ticket in advance. This ticket, I believe, will be good all the way to Euston.

If you are willing to take the Underground (tube) the entire way, you could take the Piccadilly Line to Green Park, and switch to the Victoria line to Euston Station. (This is the cheapest and you just buy your ticket before boarding.

I've taken the train numerous times between Manchester and London. But as Nigel pointed out, it's a bit of a mess right now.

Didn't the airline offer you an alternative flight?

Now that I've had a good night's sleep and a clear(er) head and in the light of others' suggestions - I'm coming down on the side of getting to Reading (pronounced red-ing, like the colour, not reading a book) and taking the Cross Country.

Normally I wouldn't wish Cross Country on my worst enemy but these are not normal times.

Avanti (formerly Virgin trains who did an excellent job) have been suffering a meltdown. They are the very fast, very frequent service from London Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, North Wales, the Lake District and Scotland. Except right now they are most definitely not. They are in dispute with their Train Drivers (called engineers in the US) and have been involved in all the nationwide train strikes this summer. Because they are in dispute the Drivers have refused to work voluntary overtime or work on their days off. They are also in dispute with their Train Managers (Conductors in North America). Avanti has thrown their hands up in the air and cancelled huge swathes of their services, in some cases taking 3 trains an hour down to one - if that one runs. They have tried to get onto an emergency timetable but have been unable to do that. They were unable to produce a timetable for the Bank Holiday weekend that just finished before the Bank Holiday.

At the moment - and it hurts me to say it because I know lots of folks there who are good people - I wouldn't touch Avanti with a ten foot pole unless there was no alternative.

Cross Country from Reading is that alternative. I don't like them because they are chronically overcrowded, they often run late, and I really dislike the actual trains with diesel engines under the floor so they vibrate and are noisy, and the First Class provision is woeful. But, mostly, they get you where you are going. And the scenery from Reading through Oxford and into the Midlands, and after Birmingham is really quite beautiful.

I'd not get Advance tickets. Too much at stake if you miss the one you bought.

Can you tell us more about what's happening that day? It sounds horrendous. Where are you actually going?

Contrary to the misinformation given you should be able to book this journey on one ticket
However this might not be the best option
Will do some research and get back
Update
You can buy an Off Peak Ticket Heathrow to Reading (bus) Cross Country Train to Manchester and Northern Rail to Airport for £112.20
Takes 5 hours 9 minutes
update
You can buy a through ticket Heathrow Express to Paddington Underground to Euston then trains to Manchester and Airport for £93.60. Takes 3 Hours 53 minutes. I haven't found ticket using Elizabeth Line to Paddington which should be cheaper. probably cheaper buying separate tickets

Bases on this ---- https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/travel-from-manchester-airport-to-sedbergh ---
it appears OP is trying to get to Sedbergh.

I too am curious that the airline did not offer an alternative

Without details of the OPs journey such as whether for example it starts at Heathrow or is a connection and if so from where or the airline(s) involved it isn't possible to give full and accurate advice on rights. The cancellation has occurred within 14 days (if it has only just happened) so if a standalone there is not only a right to a re-routing but compensation to be claimed as well.

I like the idea of a private transfer via car. Is there a recommendation out there? I'm getting very antsy over this and believe that a private transfer might be a good idea. thanks for the help on this.

also how long does it take to get thru customs at Heathrow?

I like the idea of a private transfer via car. Is there a recommendation out there?

For what part of your journey? Do you mean all the way to Sedbergh?

also how long does it take to get thru customs at Heathrow?

Presumably you mean the the immigration process (i.e., passport control )

Report by others indicate, when the e-gates are working, it is as little as 15 minutes. On a less fortunate day 60+ minutes is not unheard of.

Beth, you could use Blackberry Cars:
https://www.blackberrycars.com/
Contact them and get a quote; set it up, you're done.

Beth its immigration not customs.

How long to get through? You can never tell.

One time it was 25 minutes. Most times it’s been closer to an hour.

Depends how many planes land and deplane at the same time as well as the amount of staff at the passport desks.

You could save yourself an awful amount of trouble if you could arrange a direct re-routing to Manchester. Depending on your journey details, which you have not given, this could be something that you have an absolute right to force the airline to do. Much better if the circumstances are on your side to get them to reroute and pay you compensation than let them walk over you and put yourself well out of pocket.

The airline did offer us an option of late evening. We were concerned with luggage not making it so we didn't take the optional flight. We traveled thru Toronto this summer and luggage did not make it home with us.

Thanks for all the help. I couldn't have done it without the great input from all of you.

You don't have to accept simply what they have in offer especially if it is a change of more than 2 hours, but if you have already accepted a refund then that opportunity has gone by. Compensation might still be possible.

Thanks for all the help. I couldn't have done it without the great input from all of you.

Don't leave us hanging, what did you choose to do to get from LHR to Manchester (Sedbergh?) ?

Is taking the train reliable? From comments that doesn't seem to be the case currently. Trying to book thru nationalrail.co.uk they say: The timetable for this date may not yet be confirmed, as sales of tickets have been suspended.

Avanti West Coast will confirm this timetable as soon as possible. You can check on the link for when advance fares will be back on sale.

Does this mean we should give up on using the train?