For travellers heading to Heathrow Airport, the Elizabeth line offers a faster and more comfortable alternative to the Piccadilly line, though it comes at a higher cost—£13.90 for a single journey compared to £5.80 on the Piccadilly line. However, there are ways to reduce this expense.
If you use an Oyster card or contactless payment, a daily cap applies, limiting your total travel cost within Zones 1-6 (which covers Heathrow Airport) to £16.60. For those under 31, purchasing a Railcard and linking it to your Oyster card can lower the off-peak daily cap further to just £11. But for travellers over 31, there’s another option: using a Network Railcard to buy an Off-Peak Day Travelcard.
The Network Railcard, available to all ages, offers discounts on off-peak travel within London and surrounding areas. While it can’t be linked to an Oyster card, it does provide savings when purchasing Off-Peak Day Travelcards, which are valid for unlimited travel, including trips on the Elizabeth line to and from Heathrow.
These discounted Travelcards can be purchased at any Underground station ticket machine or through various train ticket websites like Trainline, LNER, or Uber Travel. Keep in mind of the following restrictions on weekdays:
- Off-Peak Day Travelcards are valid only after 9:30 AM; on weekends and public holidays, there are no time restrictions.
- The Network Railcard itself is valid after 10:00 AM and requires a minimum fare of £13.
In summary, with a Network Railcard, you can purchase a discounted Off-Peak Day Travelcard for £11 on weekends (valid all day) or £13 on weekdays (valid after 10:00 AM). This not only costs less than a single journey to Heathrow but also allows unlimited travel throughout the day.
The Network Railcard is priced at £35 per year, and there are often promotions available (e.g. from Trip) to reduce this cost. While the savings might seem modest, it’s always fun to share such lifehacks 🙂
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