New RailAir coach service links Watford to Heathrow

First Bus South’s new RailAir 3 (RA3) coach link is now in operation, taking passengers from Watford to Heathrow in around 45 minutes.  

With Heathrow now in the London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone), RA3 provides a cost-effective alternative to driving. Passengers on RA3 can travel for as little as £9 for a single ticket, while accompanied children under 16 travel for free.  

The RA3 operates seven days a week, with services every hour for the majority of the day. The first service leaves Watford Junction Station at 03:55 and the final journey from Heathrow is at 23:40.  

The service stops at Watford Junction Station, Watford Town Hall, and Hempstead Road. At Heathrow, the RA3 stops outside Terminals 2 and 3, with free onward connections to Terminals 4 and 5 using the frequent train and Underground links.  

The new service provides a sustainable transport alternative for passengers and those working at the airport, potentially saving thousands of car journeys every year.  

RA3 is the latest addition to the RailAir family, operated by First Bus South to support Heathrow’s goal to increase connectivity to local communities and the wider UK, through sustainable, reliable routes.  The RA3 joins the existing RA1 and RA2 RailAir services, which link Reading, Guildford and Woking with Heathrow up to every 30 minutes. 

To allow people to experience the new RA3 service, First Bus South is offering 20 FREE tickets. Details of how to apply for a ticket can be found at www.railair.com  

First Bus South Managing Director, Simon Goff, said: “RailAir 3 is a proud addition to the RailAir family. This important new link directly connects Watford to Heathrow offering a fast, efficient service which saves passengers time and money. With new ULEZ charges potentially driving costs up, I’m delighted to be able to make travel to Heathrow easier and cheaper for our customers in Watford and beyond.” 

Matthew Wooll, Heathrow’s Route Development Lead, added: “The RA3 service is a fantastic addition to Heathrow’s public transport network. We want all of Heathrow’s passengers and colleagues to have access to good public transport at the times they need it. Travelling more sustainably will help reduce congestion and emissions, and RailAir helps keep the cost of travelling down, including discounts for families travelling together and if you work at the airport.” 

[ENDS] 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

• For more information on RailAir including timetables and tickets, go to www.railair.com  

About First Bus  

First Bus is one of the UK’s largest bus operators, with a fleet of c.4,500 buses carrying over a million passengers a day. We serve two-thirds of the UK’s 15 largest conurbations, including major urban areas such as Portsmouth, Bristol and Glasgow, with a fifth of the market outside London. 

Making journeys easier for our customers, we were the first national bus operator to accept contactless card payments across all of our services and our First Bus app is voted ‘best in class’ amongst UK bus operators.  

Our most recent investments are in new, state-of-the-art buses across our key networks. We work proactively with our local authority partners, making a positive impact on air quality, tackling congestion and improving customer experience.  

We are focused on First Bus becoming a leader in the transition to a low-carbon future and are committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. We have a fleet of coaches available for charter and operate some tendered services such as Park & Ride contracts.