On my arrival at Heathrow I will be going to Cardiff for the night. Is it better to take the Express to Paddington and then one of the many trains to Cardiff or bus from LHR to Reading and board? I will have a rail pass so cost is not important.

I haven't done this, but was looking at the same thing, or returning from Cardiff to Heathrow. I would take the bus to Reading from Heathrow and pick up the train there, rather than going into London and back out again. Oddly enough there is a thread going right now about that bus service from Heathrow to Reading.

Roger, some factors to consider. Is the rail pass valid on the bus to Reading? Will you have a seat reservation for the train? And, if you are departing from terminal 3, do you enjoy the 15 minute walk through the tunnel to the Heathrow Express station or would you rather walk the 200 feet to where the buses leave from terminal 3. If you have a seat reservation and the pass is good on the bus, do it that way. Otherwise you might be better off going into Paddington.

Personally, after a couple of unsatisfactory experiences with the Reading link, I'd go for the Heathrow Express. But it depends, and it's mostly a tossup. For instance:

- the HEX goes every 15 minutes. THe bus only every 20, and every 30 at weekends and early weekdays
- almost every, not absolutely every, train stops at Reading
- if you're arriving at T4, the HEX train goes straight from your terminal to Paddington. You take a bus from T 4 to T3, then change for the Reading bus. This bus then crawls individually to terminal 2, then 1 (probably the heaviest concentration of dismal buildings west of Warsaw), before hitting the motorway. Which may, or may not, be clogged
- Trains in Britain tend to be full. Your chances of getting a seat easily are better if you get on at Paddington
- The connection at Reading itself isn't that slick, especially if you've got difficult luggage. We couldn't find a trolley last time, and there are barriers to the platform. The connection at Paddington couldn't be easier
- It can't be a 15 minute walk to HEX from T3 unless you're very disabled. Typically takes us 3 mins, T3 Customs to ticket machine.
- I can't imagine a train pass could possibly be valid on the bus.
- but all of this is relevant only if your train pass applies to the HEX. Worth checking that it does.

The elapsed time, customs exit at T1 to train leaving Reading, is almost always faster via the HEX. It is always faster from T4. It is always faster during rush hours.

For anyone paying, it's cheaper by bus (and you'll want to buy a Paddington-Cardiff return at Reading, rather than Reading-Cardiff, if you're coming back to London)

The Railair site (www.railair.com) seems more accurate than the First Great Western skimpy and out of date site referred to in the thread Patrick describes

Thanks to you all. First, I have had a lot of experience on trains in the UK, but never to Cardiff upon arrival. I will be arriving therminal 4 at 11 AM. My rail pass is good for the Heathrow Express. Also I will be arriving Jan. 27, on a Tuesday. I have never found the need for a reservation on the off season. Based on your input I think I wlll take the express to Paddington and then off to Cardiff. Thanks again!