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RailAir RA1orNational Express 032 coach to Southampton?

The short answer

For one traveler the National Express 032 coach to Southampton is cheaper by up to £6.60. The National Express 032 coach to Southampton fare is sold "from" a price rather than at it, so this comparison holds only at the advertised prices and the real answer can change with the day you travel.

The RailAir RA1 is quicker: 40 min against 1 h 40. The National Express 032 coach to Southampton varies between 85 and 120 minutes.

RailAir RA1: 04:10–00:15. National Express 032 coach to Southampton: 09:00–00:20.

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	RailAir RA1	National Express 032 coach to Southampton	Difference
1	£24	from £17.40	up to £6.60
2	£48	from £34.80	up to £13.20
3	£72	from £52.20	up to £19.80
4	£96	from £69.60	up to £26.40
5	£120	from £87	up to £33
6	£144	from £104.40	up to £39.60
7	£168	from £121.80	up to £46.20
8	£192	from £139.20	up to £52.80

Side by side

Where each one leaves you

RA1 · RailAirRailAir RA1

From: Terminal 3 (Stands 7/8), Terminal 2 (Stands 11/12) and Terminal 5
To: Reading railway station, calling at Winnersh Triangle
Luggage: 2 bags up to 30 kg each plus hand luggage per person, included; extra bags £5.00 each.
Runs: 04:10–00:15
Journey: 24–45 min

Reading to Heathrow is billed "in 40 minutes" on RailAir's own site and "under 45 minutes" to Terminal 5 specifically — book the extra few minutes for T5.

It does not run around the clock: the last coach from Terminal 3 is 00:15 and the first is 04:10, a gap of almost four hours.

RailAir RA1: price for every party size

Check times and fares with RailAir

032 · National ExpressNational Express 032 coach to Southampton

From: Heathrow Central Bus Station for Terminals 2 and 3, or outside Terminal 5 (stops 11 to 15)
To: Southampton Coach Station, Harbour Parade, in the city centre
Luggage: One large suitcase (or two medium) and one soft bag per person.
Runs: 09:00–00:20
Journey: 85–120 min

Fast from Terminal 5 (about 1 hour 25) and slower from Central Bus Station (up to 1 hour 50): the coach calls at Central first.

The coach station is not at the docks. National Express says a free bus runs from it to Southampton Central every 15 minutes.

National Express 032 coach to Southampton: price for every party size

Check times and fares with National Express

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

RailAir RA1orNational Express 032 coach to Southampton?

Priced against each other

Side by side

The other comparisons at Heathrow