Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport Minutes of Evidence


APPENDIX 14

Memorandum submitted by Heathrow Express

  Thank you for forwarding a copy of the extracts from the Committee's evidence session with London Transport concerning arrangements for travel to the Dome.

  I would like to make the following comments.

  Heathrow Express rail service between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport opened in June 1998. It is a premium service, designed to attract air passengers who would otherwise use private cars or taxis to travel between the airport and London. It is now handling 14,000 passengers a day, a large proportion of whom are business passengers, and it is well on the way to meeting its aim of removing 3,000 cars a day from the roads.

  The fare structure of Heathrow Express reflects the fact that this is a premium product, and is priced to compete with the costs of taxis and airport parking. It is not a direct competitor for those passengers who use bus or Underground services. As a complementary service, Heathrow Express offers integrated fares with London Underground, where up to 30 per cent discounts are available for onward travel from Paddington, under the "go further fare".

  Heathrow Express is happy to pursue the possibility of launching further discounted add on fares to the Dome with London Transport. On the basis of providing additional revenues without diluting the return from its existing fares.

  Heathrow Express's parent company, BAA, is an official partner in the Millennium Dome, jointly sponsoring, with British Airways, the "Home Planet" Zone. BAA is therefore deeply involved in the New Millennium Experience Company's marketing strategy to promote the Dome.

  Heathrow Express will be contributing to this marketing exercise via, among other initiatives:

    —  BAA website;

    —  Heathrow Express on-board magazine; and

    —  Heathrow Express on-board television service.

  I enclose as an example of these initiatives, a copy of one of our standard leaflets which features attractions to London, including the Millennium Dome.[5]

November 1999


5   Not printed. Back


 
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Prepared 24 November 1999