A Heathrow weekend rail disruption will affect passengers heading to the airport this weekend, with no Piccadilly line trains running on Saturday or Sunday.
Engineering works between Hammersmith and Heathrow mean Tube services on the airport branch are suspended for the whole weekend, leaving thousands of travellers to find alternative routes. Here is everything you need to know if you are flying from Heathrow on 17 or 18 October.
Piccadilly line: no trains to Heathrow all weekend
The Piccadilly line is the cheapest and most direct Tube link to Heathrow, and its closure is the biggest headache for travellers this weekend. With no trains running between Hammersmith and Heathrow Airport (Terminals 2, 3 and 5) on Saturday and Sunday, anyone travelling from central or west London will need to allow extra time.
Services are expected to run normally on the rest of the Piccadilly line, but the airport branch will stay closed until Monday morning. For the full picture of Tube disruption this weekend, see our London Tube closures this weekend: full list of disruptions.
Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express: reduced timetables on Sunday
It is not just the Tube that is affected. The Elizabeth line will run a reduced service on Sunday, although Saturday services are unaffected.
On Sunday, just two trains an hour will run between Paddington and Terminal 4, and four trains an hour between Paddington and Terminals 2 and 3 — roughly half the normal frequency.
The Heathrow Express will also run a reduced timetable on Sunday between 9.40am and 10.40pm, with trains departing every 30 minutes instead of the usual 15. Disruption is not limited to the airport routes either — four Overground lines also face closures this weekend.
What are the alternatives to the airport?
If you are heading to Heathrow this weekend, you still have several options:
- The Elizabeth line: despite Sunday’s reduced timetable, the Elizabeth line from central London remains the fastest rail alternative to Heathrow. Trains run from Paddington, and you can join at stations including Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Farringdon. Expect services to be busier than usual.
- The Heathrow Express: still running on Sunday, just less frequently. Trains leave Paddington every 30 minutes between 9.40am and 10.40pm. Book in advance online for the cheapest fares.
- Local buses: several bus routes serve Heathrow, and this weekend pre-paid rail tickets and travelcards will be accepted on them. Routes include the 105, 111, 278, 285 and 490, plus the N9 night bus and the SL7 and SL9 express services. Buses are slower, but they are a useful option if you are travelling from nearby west London neighbourhoods.
- Coaches and taxis: coach operators run to Heathrow from across London and the South East, and a pre-booked minicab can be cost-effective if you are travelling with luggage or in a group.
Why is this happening?
Weekend engineering works are a routine part of running the Tube. Transport for London uses quieter weekend periods to carry out essential maintenance, track renewals and signalling upgrades that cannot be done while trains are running.
Autumn is traditionally a busy season for these works, with closures somewhere on the network most weekends. The works between Hammersmith and Heathrow are part of that planned maintenance programme — not a response to a fault or an emergency — so services should return to normal on Monday morning.
Travel advice for the weekend
If you are flying from Heathrow this weekend:
- Leave earlier than usual. Rail journeys will take longer, and Sunday services will be busier than normal as Piccadilly line passengers switch to the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express.
- Check before you travel. Use the TfL website or app, and the Heathrow Express journey planner, for the latest service information on the day.
- Have a back-up plan. If the Elizabeth line is packed, know which bus or coach route could get you to the airport instead.
- Tickets and contactless still work. If you switch to an accepted bus route, your pre-paid rail ticket or travelcard will be valid for the journey.
And once you reach the airport, note that Heathrow Terminal 4 works mean the way you get to the terminal has changed. Travellers are advised to check the TfL and Heathrow websites before setting off.
