Heathrow Airtrack consultation begins
[October 22nd 2008]
Consultation has started on Heathrow Airtrack, the proposed new rail link that could significantly improve journey times to Heathrow airport.
Airport operator BAA wants Heathrow Airtrack to connect Heathrow with the national rail network to the south and west of the airport. If the new rail link gets the go ahead trains will run from Heathrow Terminal 5 to London Waterloo, Guildford and Reading. In addition some Heathrow Express services will be extended through T5 to Staines.
In support of Heathrow Airtrack, BAA says it will offer a more energy efficient, less polluting and more reliable alternative to car journeys to the airport. BAA says it will also reduce congestion on local and regional roads.
If Heathrow Airtrack is built BAA claims that approximately 72% of Heathrow’s current passengers would be living in areas that are within one rail interchange of the airport. The airport operator has produced figures showing there would be an average reduction in journey times on public transport to the airport of up to 10 minutes.
And in some cases journey times to Heathrow would be slashed. For example, BAA says the journey from Wokingham to Heathrow airport would be reduced from 1 hour 25 minutes to just 35 minutes.
In the next stage of the public consultation, which runs until December 15th, BAA will focus on the scheme from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Staines and the effects of construction and operation of the rail link on local communities and the environment.
Local residents are being invited to exhibitions taking place at three local venues in Staines, Stanwell and Feltham. Last Spring residents in the Staines area, along with landowners, businesses, local authorities and local MPs along the route as well as environmental organisations and transport bodies, were also consulted.
Before BAA can proceed with Heathrow Airtrack it will need to get approval from the Secretary of State for Transport, through the Transport and Works Act order process. BAA says local community feedback on the proposals will enable it to make any necessary changes to the scheme before an application is made to the Secretary of State for an order early next year.
Written by: Nick Purdom
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