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LHR → London · head to head

Elizabeth lineorRailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The Elizabeth line reaches Paddington, and the whole of Zone 1 beyond it; the RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton does not. This goes to Southampton, not London: it ends at Southampton Central, about a mile from the City and Horizon cruise terminals.

The Elizabeth line is quicker: 40 min against 1 h 44. The RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton varies between 100 and 125 minutes.

Elizabeth line: 05:21–00:12. RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton: 04:50–22:20.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares

What each costs for the whole party, in GBP. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
Travelers	Elizabeth line	RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton	Difference
1	£14.60	£48.30	£33.70
2	£29.20	£96.60	£67.40
3	£43.80	£144.90	£101.10
4	£58.40	£193.20	£134.80
5	£73	£241.50	£168.50
6	£87.60	£289.80	£202.20
7	£102.20	£338.10	£235.90
8	£116.80	£386.40	£269.60

Side by side

Where each one leaves you

Elizabeth · Transport for LondonElizabeth line

From: Rail stations at Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5
To: Paddington, continuing through Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street
Luggage: Racks at the ends of the carriages; the trains are built for it.
Runs: 05:21–00:12
Journey: 40–45 min

It is the weakest value of the three on time alone: 2.5 times the Underground fare to save about ten minutes. It is also the option the airport promotes hardest.

The airport quotes this journey at "£13.90" on its own page. TfL, which sets the fare, charges £14.60 to Paddington and £15.50 beyond.

The airport states the journey as "under 40 minutes" on one page and "under 45 minutes" on another.

Elizabeth line: price for every party size

Check the fare with TfL

RA2SWR · RailAir and South Western RailwayRailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton

From: Terminal 3 (Stands 7/8), Terminal 2 (Stands 11/12) or Terminal 5, on the RailAir RA2 coach
To: Southampton Central, changing at Woking
Luggage: The RA2 coach takes 2 bags of up to 30 kg and hand luggage per person; extra bags are £5 each. The train has racks.
Runs: 04:50–22:20
Journey: 100–125 min

The through ticket is only valid via Woking: a ticket by any other route costs more.

The train from Woking runs hourly, so a missed connection costs close to an hour.

RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton: price for every party size

Check times and fares with National Rail

This compares two of 12 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

Elizabeth lineorRailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton?

Priced against each other

Side by side

The other comparisons at Heathrow