Going on holiday can be one of the most exciting things you can do, but getting to the airport can add unnecessary stress to the who thing. Even if you’re not going on holiday but need to get to Heathrow for some other reason, the idea of having to work out how to get there might be something you dread. The good news is that driving yourself isn’t the only method, with the people of Guildford also having the option to take advantage of the RailAir RA2 service that will take you to Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 5.
What Is RailAir?
The RailAir system can be dated back to the 1960s, which is when Thames Valley Traction put on a RailAir Link coach from Reading Train Station to Heathrow Airport. A similar service was also offered from Woking to Heathrow. This was in the era when buses were operated on a national scale, thanks to the National Bus Company, and trains were the jurisdiction of British Rail. They created a partnership that worked under the RailAir Link brand. Once buses were deregulated, the services that ran from train stations to airports passed into private hands.
The Bee Line Bus Company operated the service from Heathrow to Reading, for example, becoming a First Berkshire operation when FirstGroup bought Beeline. The service from Woking to Heathrow was the responsibility of Speedlink Airport Services, which was later sold to National Express. In the modern era, RaiAir is mostly just a generic term that is used for any service between a train station and an airport, albeit it Heathrow is the main airport that the services run from and to. The railway stations that go to Heathrow on the RailAir service are all Southern.
The RA2 Route
Depending on where you live down South, there is a strong chance that there will be a RailAir service that you will be able to get. The 285/900 runs from Feltham to Heathrow, for example, whilst the RA1 takes people from Reading to the airport. The RA3 is for those in the Watford Junction area, whilst the one that we’re most interested in is the RA2, given the fact that that serves Guildford and Woking. The rail operator is South Western Railway and the buses are operated by First Berkshire & The Thames Valley.
When the trains depart Guildford will depend on the time of day that you’re looking to get the train as well as the day you’re departing on. Here is a look at the weekday timetable for 2025, giving you the departure time from Guildford Railway Station and the arrival time at each of the Heathrow Terminals:
| Guildford Departure | Heathrow Terminal 5 Arrival | Heathrow Terminal 2 Arrival | Heathrow Terminal 3 Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.30 | 3.18 | 3.34 | 3.39 |
| 3.30 | 4.18 | 4.35 | 4.39 |
| 4.30 | 5.18 | 5.34 | 5.39 |
| 5.21 | 6.12 | 6.28 | 6.33 |
| 6.12 | 7.12 | 7.29 | 7.33 |
| 7.05 | 8.12 | 8.28 | 8.33 |
| 8.05 | 9.14 | 9.30 | 9.35 |
| 9.14 | 10.14 | 10.30 | 10.35 |
| 10.14 | 11.14 | 11.30 | 11.35 |
| 11.14 | 12.14 | 12.30 | 12.35 |
| 12.14 | 13.14 | 13.30 | 13.35 |
| 13.09 | 14.14 | 14.30 | 14.35 |
| 14.06 | 15.14 | 15.30 | 15.35 |
| 15.01 | 16.19 | 16.35 | 16.40 |
| 16.09 | 17.24 | 17.40 | 17.45 |
| 17.15 | 18.24 | 18.40 | 18.45 |
| 18.30 | 19.24 | 19.40 | 19.45 |
| 19.33 | 20.24 | 20.40 | 20.45 |
| 20.58 | 21.49 | 22.05 | 22.10 |
| 22.00 | 22.49 | 23.05 | 23.10 |
| 23.00 | 23.49 | 0.05 | 0.10 |
| 23.50 | 0.39 | N/A | N/A |
The most important thing to realise is that this is just a rough guide to timings and it could change at any point, so make sure you check with the operating company what time each bus is expected to depart before you head to the train station in question. You should also ensure that the scheduled arrival time gives you enough leeway to make it through security etc., presuming you’re heading to Heathrow to fly somewhere.
The other thing to flag up is that that schedule is specifically for weekdays, so if you’re heading to Heathrow on a Saturday or a Sunday then the service will be different again. This can be looked at online in order to ensure that you’re heading to the train station at the right time. There is also an entirely different timetable heading from Heathrow back to Guildford.
Things to Think About
The timings might not work perfectly for you. The good news is that there are several stops along the way between Guildford and Heathrow. Here is a look a the other places that the RailAir RA2 service also picks people up:
- The Chase, University of Surrey (Northbound)
- The Bird in Hand (Northbound)
- Woking Station, Southside
- Paragon Roundabout, McLaren (Northbound)
- Compass Centre Newbury Road
They all see the bus arrive and depart at different times, but that obviously allows for a touch more flexibility in terms of your journey time. There is no bus from Guildford between 02.30 and 03.30, for example, but there is one from Woking Station at 03.23, so you could make your way there if that is more convenient for you. There are similar such bus times operating through the day in the gaps when there is no bus from Guildford between the hours.
The coaches that are available for travel to Heathrow are obviously all designed to be able to take passengers who will be going on holiday, so there should be plenty of room for your suitcases and all of your belongings. Even so, it is advisable to ensure that you keep your valuables in a separate, smaller bag that you are able to take on to the coach just in case something happens such as someone picking up the wrong bag when they get off. You don’t want to be in a situation where you don’t have your passport or your money, say.