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Comment by noodlesUK | Hacker News Reader

I never thought too much about crossrail before it opened unless there was some disruption that it caused. I’ve always supported mass transit projects but as I wasn’t really the target audience it never caught my imagination. I’ve now tried the Elizabeth line and I’m so glad it was delivered. It’s staggering how big and beautiful the stations are. I remember thinking that this is probably what it would be like to live in subterranean cities on mars.

Bring on HS2 next!

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The platform size / train length is a bit mind blowing. Coming in to Liverpool Street from the east - if you're at the back of the train you're in position to get off at Liverpool St. If you're at the front you're getting off at Moorgate! Crazy!

https://goo.gl/maps/E5jn2AcJtj85S8gp8 for those not from the area, looks like about 1000 feet or more between them.

It is a nice development, but I will air a gripe here that TfL seems to go to lengths to obscure the average traveler's understanding that you can take Elizabeth line to the airport and save $$.

The departure boards [edit: at Paddington rail station (note, not the tube)] will not label Elizabeth line trains with "Heathrow Airport", the TfL journey planner will not offer it to you unless you actively turn off National Rail options (i.e. Heathrow Express), etc.

This goes all the way back to when it was Heathrow Connect (does anyone remember that? Memories from my grad school days when it was approx. £6), and the fact that it was a continuing service to Heathrow always labeled as a small footnote near the bottom.

I somewhat wonder if they do this out of agreement with Heathrow Express, or more charitably interpreted as not confusing people. Either way it costs people who don't know otherwise.

The boards literally say Heathrow T#, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.

Apologies, my comments are from the time when the Elizabeth line was at the rail station at Paddington. And probably still hold for the few departures that do go from there. I'm not referring to the departure boards on the proper Elizabeth line now -- those of course show the destination.

My comment about the TfL journey planner is still the case though.

It’s possibly at least partly a case of journey planners assuming you want the fastest possible option, and not taking into account the premium Heathrow Express charges?

I’m not sure why TfL would want to actively push Heathrow Express over their own options, as they don’t have anything to gain, as it’s run by the airport and GWR / First Group, not themselves.

Here's one example of the departure board at Paddington clearly showing Heathrow Airport for a Heathrow Connect train.

https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-de...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/_mia/2437542452

I found it clearly enough at Paddington in the spring, though the signs at Heathrow for the cheap option were terrible.

I’m excited there’s now a reasonably priced way to get from central London to Heathrow, without advance booking. On may way out last week I had to do the change at Paddington. Really looking forward to going straight to Tottenham Court Road from T4 on one go!

You know it isn't reasonably priced... It's still got a special airport surcharge of a whopping £12.80 each way, and still costs more than an airport transfer at pretty much every other European capital city.

Stockholm's Arlanda Express is 299 SEK (24.18 GBP) each way and around 40km away. For a 17 minute trip with the train!

The last time I did that, I rode a bike. It was ok.

Did it fit in the overhead luggage compartment after?

They make folding bikes for just that: https://www.cyclist.co.uk/buying-guides/4528/best-folding-bi...

I've done that a few times with my Strida (admittedly checked rather than overhead compartment). You'd probably get away with bringing a Brompton as hand luggage, although it's technically slightly over the limit.

On the particular trip in question, I was actually meeting someone who had just flown in (with her bike).

But yeah, I have flown with my bike quite a few times. It's mildly annoying.

There has been a reasonably priced way since 1977. It currently costs £5.50

According to citymapper crossrail shaves off a whole 7 minutes from my journey while costing £7 more. I'll probably keep taking the piccadilly unless I'm like, desperate for aircon or really late or something.

Trying to get anything larger than carry on luggage into a Piccadilly line carriage is a bit of a squeeze though.

Piccadilly Line?

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