"vmnvmcxbv" wrote in message
news:av48i.48$UD4.21@trndny07
I will be on vacation in London at the end of this month. I arrive to
Heathrow airport and stay in Bayswater inn hotel. Let's just say that
$100 price for the taxi trip seems to be somewhat excessive for this
New York resident . So I figured I can take a tube.
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk suggested this route (I selected
tube only with least transfers):
=======================
10:00

10:06Heathrow Terminal 2
Walk to Heathrow Terminals 1-2-3
Transfer time:6mins


10:06

10:39Heathrow Terminals 1-2-3 Underground Station
Take the Piccadilly Line towards Arnos Grove
or Piccadilly Line towards Cockfosters

10:45

Earl's Court Underground Station
Take the District Line towards Edgware Road (Circle Line)

Average journey time: 8 mins

10:53Bayswater Underground Station
=======================================

Is this route doable with one large bag on wheels and small backpack?
I've never been to London and don't know how crowded London Tube is.
Am I correct to understand that tube trains run on pre-determined
schedule (seems like a foreign concep to me )?

Tube trains do have a timetable, but for most routes it's not published.
The Journey Planner does know it and uses it, but trains don't stick to
it precisely, except (usually) at the beginning of the route. Most
routes are too frequent for you to have to care.

I would change your route to change twice, but more easily:
Take the Piccadilly Line as suggested, but get off at Hammersmith or
Baron's Court stations. Normally, all Piccadilly Line trains from
Heathrow T123 take this route, so you don't have to worry about looking
at where the train is going.

Walk across the platform and wait for the next District Line train
(it'll usually be there in a couple of minutes or so). Again, you don't
need to look at where it's going. You'll notice that this train is much
larger than the Piccadilly Line train, with much more headroom. It will
probably have green handrails.

When you get to Earl's Court (which will take about five minutes), get
off and take the next train to Edgware Road. It will probably be across
the platform, and you won't usually have to wait more than five minutes
(often, it's already waiting in the platform). To help you spot the
right train, this one will have yellow grab rails, though it's still
called a District Line train (not Circle Line). You will encounter your
first stairs at Bayswater station. I suggest you get in the second car
of the train from Earl's Court to be near the stairs at Bayswater.

I did a similar journey yesterday, and it was completely painless. I got
a seat on all three trains, and there was room for baggage, but the
trains from Heathrow are sometimes crowded and full of bags -- there's
extra space around the doors for the bags.

You will need a zone 1-6 ticket, which will be cheaper if you buy either
an Oyster card or a Travelcard.