There have been quite a few posts lately about the railway lines and
stations under Heathrow, so I went along yesterday to refresh my
memory. I use Heathrow quite often, but am normally encumbered by
luggage and in a hurry to check-in or go home, but this trip was pure
sight-seeing:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...57667996346665

A few points:

- The corridor connection to the Piccadilly station at T4 has quite a
slope, so departing pax have to push or tow their luggage up to the
lifts and escalator (of course, passengers heading into London walk
downhill to the station). I wonder why? Was the platform tunnel a bit
deeper than expected when the terminal was built (the T4 Piccadilly
Line extension was approved after the terminal was designed)?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/


- The Heathrow Airport terminal signs all promote Heathrow Express,
barely mentioning the Tube or Heathrow Connect. But there's never any
mention of the higher fares:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/


- Both Heathrow Connect and Express trains have a quick security
walk-through (not cleaners) when reversing, before pax are allowed to
board. Was this always the case, or is it something recent?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/


- Heathrow Express trains have excellent luggage space, Piccadilly
Line much less so.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/
But people use the available space badly, preferring to keep their
bags right under their eyes, even though this clogs the already
limited space on the small Tube trains:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/


- The HEx and HC trains have an excellent level interface with the
platforms, with almost no gap:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/

However, I notice that the platforms slope upwards towards the trains,
presumably deliberately to reduce the chances of wheeled bags rolling
off, on to the tracks. Were they built this way, or was the profile
changed later?

The Piccadilly line trains have a higher floor than the platforms,
except where there's a short hump (not all platforms). This affects
not just disabled people, but anyone hauling heavy bags on and off the
trains.


- We know that the current terminating platforms at T5 will become
through platforms in a few years. But you can't yet see anything
before the platform ends:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/


- The Heathrow Connect platforms at T4 are much deeper than the
Piccadilly Line platform:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/

Have there been any proposals to extend this line as well, to run
through services to the south? The line could certainly pass over the
Piccadilly line with plenty of clearance.


- The empty frame for the lift bank down to the currently unused pair
of southern platforms is clearly visible, but there's a temporary
concrete floor above them, so it's not possible to see if there are
yet any actual platforms underneath (I suspect not):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...7667996346665/

This third (southern) pair of platforms for trains to and beyond
Staines will be accessed by their own dedicated escalators and lifts
from the Departures and Arrivals levels, so they will effectively form
their own separate station, in much the same way that the current Tube
and HEx platforms do. They will probably be barriered, like the
Piccadilly Line platforms, but unlike the HEx platforms (as the latter
provide the free service between terminals).