Hello,

I would like to book am Advance Train ticket from Heathrow (T4) to York; however, it appears that there is no railway ticket counter or vending machines available at Heathrow where I can obtain my original ticket (I am opting for print@home option as I am not a UK resident). In fact, I am supposed to change the underground to rail at London Kings Cross Station, where the connecting train to York is leaving immediately upon reaching. In that case, where should I get the printed ticket from?

Thanks and regards,

Nakul

There is no train station at Heathrow which is why there is no ticket office for the trains there.

Perhaps I have misunderstood your question - if you are selecting print@home why do you need to collect tickets? Doesnt that mean you print the tickets yourself at home and will have them with you?

If you have to collect tickets, then you need to take the credit card you used to book them online to one of the Fast Ticket machines at King's Cross (you may also need to enter a booking reference number). But surely they will have told you all this as part of the online booking process and/or in a confirmation email?

I doubt "the connecting train to York is leaving immediately upon reaching." Kings Cross. The railway booking systems have no idea about tube timetables, so the system's guessing.

It's roughly an hour from the tube leaving T4 to arriving at KX. I've never once seen a queue at a KX ticket machine (there are dozens) since the station was upgraded a year ago. With trains to York every half hour, just book a train half an hour later than your best guess of your likely arrival time at KX (after, of course, allowing for the likelihood of your exit from LHR baggage claim being later than you thought)

Thanks jamikins - I read somewhere that print@home ticket would not suffice for travel in certain trains. Though I'm not sure about it. Infact, what is the sense in printing the ticket at home then. Are you sure about it that print@home ticket should suffice.

Thanks Patrick, I am aware of the requirement of carrying the credit card and booking reference.

Dear Flanner - Thanks, I checked the timetable at east coast website and I don't want to take a chance just in case. As such taking a train from KX with a difference of half-an-hour. Please suggest if it is well connected to catch train to York from underground at KX and how long should it take to come out take ticket from vending machine and reach railway station platform.

Easiest thing to do is buy your tube ticket at heathrow, not in advance, as I don't think the paper you print will work on the tubes. Then buy your kings cross to York ticket online in advance...I would book it for about 3-4 hours after my flight, or book a flexible ticket so you can get on Amy train. Then print that ticket at home, or collect it at kings cross before you board the train.

From the Piccadilly Line platform, to a ticket machine, to the York platform should take a maximum of 10 mins, depending how crowded the escalator up from the tube is (I've done it in three). Kings Cross mainline railway station is VERY small.

The problem is that, apart from the unpredictability of your plane, UK immigration and baggage availability, Kings Cross tube station is immense, potentially prone to overcrowding and occasionally subject to complicated passenger rerouting to thin crowds out. Assuming possible disorientation, allow 20-30 minutes.

Thanks guys. Best option I think is to break the journey and book the train from KX to York after 30 minutes of reaching KX by tube.

Friends please suggest me the best way to reach Heathrow Underground station from T4 (where my flight will be landing). It is very confusing to understand the transport system to reach from Heathrow to London for me.
Thanks,

"Friends please suggest me the best way to reach Heathrow Underground station from T4 "

1. Get off plane
2. Go through immigration, collect bags, exit secure area
3. Look in front of you. See sign saying "Underground". Follow it. After about 100 yds, you're in the ticket hall, Get a ticket, then get on train. All tube trains from the T4 station go only in the direction of central London. Stay on train for about 50 minutes, getting off at Kings Cross St Pancras, after about a dozen and a half other stops.
4. Follow signs for Kings Cross railway station

That was too good Flanner, thanks a lot. I got confused as the railway website mentions like 2 changes of trains like T4 to T1/2/3, then to London Paddington, finally reaching at Kings Cross. But your narration looks pretty simple. If its not bothering you too much, I have couple of more questions.

1. Do I need to board another train before KX (as according to your plan there appears no change)?

2. Can I buy an advance ticket for the travel mentioned by you and would get a vending machine at Heathrow T4?

Thanks again

<i> I got confused as the railway website mentions like 2 changes of trains like T4 to T1/2/3, then to London Paddington </i>

Default is for the fastest route which is Heathrow Express to Paddington then Tube to Kings Cross. Hidden away on the list of Heathrow stations is "Heathrow Underground" which will route you onto the direct Picadilly Line Tube to Kings Cross.

You can buy Tube tickets at Heathrow, but you have to buy (or rather collect if you book in advance) the train tickets at Kings Cross, so best to allow extra time. KX is a lot better place to hang around these days for a while and if you get bored you can nip next door to St Pancras or if you don't have much luggage into the British Library

Thanks Alan

Just to reiterate the possible delay confusion at Kings Cross, the place is bit of a muddle and I've been caught in two situations that needed 10 minutes or so to sort out, one was a "gate" had moved in its recess and partially closed a stairwell and the other was when local Bobbies were trying to get a few white men in their stop and search statistics. Neither was frightening or upsetting but time is eaten up easily. As Flanner suggests things also can go very well and you will wonder what you/we were worrying about.

I will keep that in mind bilboburgler and have some 30 minutes gap, but as such I have no other choice other than routing through KX.

flanner:- my flight is scheduled to land at 10.15 and I am buying an advance ticket from Kings Cross at 1.00 pm, which I believe is enough time to reach there and obtain tickets from vending machine. I might have half-an-hour extra at KX but I believe that should be okay.

As per your wordings after buying tickets for underground, the train I am boarding is not required to be changed until Picaddily. Please confirm.

I am sorry but its getting very confusing. Certainly the train from Heathrow Underground (I believe its a station name) to Kings Cross takes around 50 minutes (without any change). But do I have easy access (walkable distance) from T4 untill Heathrow Underground?? Heathrow website mentions it like I need to reach T1/2/3 first and then take another train to reach Heathrow Underground. Kindly clarify.

>> But do I have easy access (walkable distance) from T4 untill Heathrow Underground??<<

Yes

>>Heathrow website mentions it like I need to reach T1/2/3 first and then take another train to reach Heathrow Underground. Kindly clarify. <<

If you look at the map:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...itor-guide.pdf
you'll see the underground trains loop round between the stations for T4 and T123. All you have to do is follow the signs for the Underground from the terminal building, and get on the next train, which will take you all the way to Kings Cross without changing anywhere.

I think you may be confusing yourself with the directions for T5.

Thanks a lot Patrick. I have visitied the link and I understand that immediately after clearance from T4 I can board the underground without going anywhere else and straighaway to Kings Cross. Thanks. Any comments about Oyster/Day Travelcard - should I go for it as on my return after a week I shall be staying in London for 3 days. Suggestions are invited.

For three days, get an Oyster for pay-as-you-go. The system will work it all out, but basically it will cap each day's charges at slightly under the rate for a one-day travelcard. If you have unused credit at the end, keep it for next time, or you can get a refund. You could put £25 on it from the outset, or less if you want to be cautious, but then you might need to keep topping it up as you go along (you can top it up at any tube station or lots of newsagents/convenience stores around London).