Stansted Express
Stansted Express runs Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street in 48 minutes, every 15 minutes, with fares from £9.90.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Official website
- Official website
- Train tickets
- Direct
Stansted Express is the direct rail link between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street, calling at Tottenham Hale on the way, where you can change onto the Victoria Line.
Route and journey time
The run to Liverpool Street takes 48 minutes on average, covering 30 miles (48 km), with trains roughly every 15 minutes during the day and around 96 departures a day in each direction. Trains start at 05:28 and keep running past midnight, until 00:30. Fares start from £9.90 for an advance single. At the airport end, the station sits under a five-minute walk from the departure lounge, so there's little buffer time to build in beyond the walk itself.
Onboard
Carriages are air-conditioned with spacious seats, plug sockets and USB ports built in under the seat, and free Wi-Fi for the whole journey. You can bring up to three items of luggage onboard, kept next to your seat, underneath it, in the overhead racks, or in the racks by the doors. Accessible toilets on board include a fold-down baby-changing unit.
Bikes and accessibility
Only folding bikes and folding e-bikes travel on the Stansted Express, and they need to be fully folded before boarding; no other bikes, including e-scooters, are carried. At Stansted Airport, the walk from arrivals to the train station is about two minutes, with lifts, ramps and escalators the whole way, and staff are on hand to help older or disabled passengers or anyone with mobility difficulties.
Who runs it
Stansted Express moved into public ownership under DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd) in October 2025, part of a wider government programme bringing DfT-responsible rail operators together under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, with Great British Railways eventually running operators and Network Rail under one banner.
Where to book
Train tickets
- Buy direct from Stansted Express
Stansted Express
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Stansted Express take?
The Stansted Express takes an average of 48 minutes between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street, with trains running around every 15 minutes during the day.
How much does a Stansted Express ticket cost?
Fares on the Stansted Express start from £9.90 for an advance single ticket between London Liverpool Street or Stratford and Stansted Airport.
Can I bring a bike on the Stansted Express?
Only folding bikes or folding e-bikes are allowed on the Stansted Express, and they must be fully folded. No other bikes are carried on this service.
Who operates the Stansted Express?
Stansted Express moved into public ownership under DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd) in October 2025, as part of the government's Public Ownership Programme.
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