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:
— 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
| 
