To the Trains!
Widebodies and Short Routes
- Let’s do a challenge
- Off to Heathrow
- Points to be Made vs Economy Class and Beyond – Two idiots race across Heathrow
- Heathrow Terminal 5 and The British Airways Galleries South Lounge
- IB3167 London Heathrow to Madrid (BUSINESS CLASS)
- Crowne Plaza Madrid Airport
- Exploring a bit of Madrid
- Back to Barajas and the Iberia Lounges
- BA461 Madrid to London Heathrow (BUSINESS CLASS/BA FIRST)
- To the trains!
- Two sides of the IAG coin
To the trains!
With us both off the plane, Tim and I headed to the transit system for the ride back to T5A. Thankfully, there was only a short wait for a train.
With us arriving at T5A, we headed to the elevators and towards the UK Border. Rather than waste time waiting for the “it might be working, it might not be working” ePassport Gates, we both headed to manual clearance – where we were seen to, and cleared quickly.
With that done, I checked the clock – realised I had 5 minutes to clear the secure area, get through the basement and catch the Heathrow Express that would meet the TfL Rail service. If I didn’t meet it – I would be on the tube, which could mean me hanging around London train stations for longer than I would like.
Off to customs.
I cleared customs and said my farewells to Tim.
T5 Arrivals
4 minutes on the clock.
Get your transfers here!
I headed over at speed to the Heathrow Express station and skipped past the ticket machines. Then there was a slow wait for the elevators.
Do you know when something takes forever when it actually doesn’t? Bingo.
1 minute on the clock, and I was at the Heathrow Express gates. A blip of-of my iPhone on a ticket gate, and I was through to the waiting train.
And a short time later… beep beep beep… The doors slammed shut – and the train pulled out of the station. Now, that’s what you call a Heathrow Race.
Another three-minute ride and I was at Heathrow Central. Rather than paying the full Heathrow Express fare, I bundled out of the train and waited for 5 minutes for the TfL Rail service to Paddington.
Bye Heathrow Express…
…Hello TfL Rail!
That arrived, and I got into the train for the 25-minute ride back to Paddington station.
Well worn seats. Not long before the Class 345s replace these trains.
By the time I got to Ealing Broadway, Tim had made it to his hotel safely. Which was good.
The train pulled into Paddington, and I blipped out of the station, and straight into the Bakerloo Line entrance.
Down we go!
With 20 minutes on the clock, I had plenty of time to get a coffee, find a seat and get on the train.
Ahh. Hello clapped out 1972 stock.
Sadly by the time I got to Marylebone, Starbucks was shut, and Pret was heading to closing.
NOOOOOOOOO
Thankfully, Pret made me a drink that resembled coffee. Which is helpful. And also next door to Starbucks.
With that in hand, I headed to the quiet train heading for Birmingham – with people avoiding the line and the 2 and a half hour ride back to Birmingham.
Down the platfomr
At best, I would be home just after midnight.
Joy.
I headed onto the waiting train and grabbed a seat. Eventually, it rumbled into life and begun the slow journey – going via Amersham to Aylesbury, reversing at Aylesbury towards Princes Risborough, and then pelting itself down the Chiltern Mainline towards Bicester North, Banbury, Leamington Spa and Birmingham.
At just before midnight, the train pulled into Birmingham Moor Street station.
I summoned a Uber for the final part of the ride home, and let the driver lose himself in Birmingham traffic.
Eventually – I made it to my front door… and the race was over. Time to get back into bed and fill up on flu medication again.
Finally: Two Sides of the IAG Coin
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