Heathrow Terminal 5 station

Heathrow Terminal 5 station stands beneath the airport’s newest terminal in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It is the only place at Heathrow where the Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line all share the same platforms. The station is managed by Heathrow Express staff and lies in London fare zone 6, making it the westernmost below-ground station on the network. Twin tunnels run from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to this station, with a pocket track beyond the platforms where trains reverse direction after dropping passengers. The project was approved in November 2001 by transport minister Stephen Byers after the longest public inquiry ever held in the UK. The station opened in March 2008 alongside Terminal 5, designed by architects HOK with Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Its roof uses translucent ETFE laminate panels that let natural daylight reach both ends of all six platforms. Since May 2022 the Elizabeth line has served the station, joining the Piccadilly line and Heathrow Express. Half the Piccadilly line trains terminate here after passing Hatton Cross, while the other half loop to Terminal 4 and Terminals 2 & 3. Heathrow Express runs non-stop to and from Paddington from separate platforms. Visitors find a busy interchange with clear signs to each service. Free transfers between Heathrow stations on the Piccadilly line were introduced in 2012 for Oyster and contactless card holders. London buses routes 350, 423, 482, 490 and night route N9 stop outside, with coaches from First Berkshire & The Thames Valley, National Express and Oxford Bus Company. Safeguarded heavy-rail platforms remain available for future connections to Slough, Reading and beyond.