Terminal 5 by train..

It's not clear, do I have to take and pay for the Expensive Express?

I'm used to going with virgin, so could take the half speed, half price slow train. But can I do that, and can you buy T3 to T5 on the fast train?

If I understand you correctly you want to get from T3 to T5?

Yes it is free on the Heathrow Express. Thr Connect service also goes to T5 now.

If you have an oyster paygo or contactless debit/credit card the tube is also free.

I want to go from Paddington to Terminal 5. Seems fastest is the expensive one.

The connect service goes to terminal 5 now?

I don't understand the tube comment though. Free from where to where?

I also can't seem to get virgin or national express to offer the slow train either, for terminal 5...

I want to go from Paddington to Terminal 5. Seems fastest is the expensive one. Yes - that's the Heathrow Express. IMHO overpriced tourist trap

The connect service goes to terminal 5 now? Yes

I don't understand the tube comment though. Free from where to where Within the airport you can use the tube to transfer between terminals(including up to Hatton Cross if needed) but for it to be free you need to use oyster / contactless to touch in/out

I also can't seem to get virgin or national express to offer the slow train either, for terminal 5...

I just checked on East Coast and it's the same with them - only offering the HEX.

It may be down to the track access conditions - LHR and not National Rail owns the airport spur track(probably explains why you can't use a travel card on the Hayes & Harlington to LHR section either)

I didn't even realise that there was a T5 tube station... A lot of the internet maps are out of date methinks...

depends which map you look at but it's been open since 2008!

So what stations do you enter to get the slow train between paddington and Terminal 5, say on nationalrail website...

Heathrow connect often doesn't call at T5, you just change at T123 for the HEX, you only pay from Paddington to Heathrow.

Travel between terminals is free on the HEX, Connect, Bus and Tube (with CPC or Oyster)