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Surrey plans for new direct fast trains to Heathrow Airport get major …

Surrey’s hopes of direct fast train links to Heathrow Airport have received a major boost after London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he backed the plans.

Sadiq has given his support to a proposed new railway link that would connect Heathrow Airport[1] with south west London, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire.

There is currently no rail access to Heathrow from the south. Services only run in from central London and the east. MP Seema Malhotra has called the lack of southern access for the world’s busiest airport “scandalous”.

The so-called Southern Rail Link scheme would involve laying new track from Terminal 5 station down to the existing South Western Railway network at Staines[2]. From there, trains could travel through Twickenham and Richmond – or via Hounslow and Brentford – to reach Clapham Junction and Waterloo.

There is currently no rail access to Heathrow from the south

A second branch is also proposed to run from the airport to Virginia Water, providing services out to Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire. This second branch would enable trains from those counties to conceivably use the existing Elizabeth line infrastructure to get to Paddington, including a stop at the HS2 station Old Oak Common.

In response to a written question from Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat leader on the London Assembly, Sadiq said the Southern Rail Link “could be transformative in enabling more people to reach the UK’s busiest airport” from south London and the surrounding counties.

He added that the project would support a shift to more sustainable travel modes and “transform access” to Heathrow for passengers and staff coming from those areas.

The mayor said he and Transport for London are in “regular dialogue with a broad range of interested stakeholders” to resolve issues that have stalled the scheme previously.

Feltham and Heston MP Seema Malhotra said it was “scandalous that the world’s busiest airport is not connected to south London… for want of a few kilometres of track”.

The Southern Rail Link is being proposed by Heathrow Southern Railway Limited (HSRL), which would build and own the infrastructure. In 2016/17, the estimated capital cost was around £1.3 billion. Train companies could then pay HSRL an access charge to run services, regulated by the Office of Rail and Road.

Transport minister Baroness Vere said in June that the Southern Rail Link must be privately funded and deliver significant benefits. She added the government continues to discuss options with HSRL as issues are resolved. She added: “Government remains committed to improving rail access to Heathrow airport.”

References

  1. ^ Heathrow Airport (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
  2. ^ Staines (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
  3. ^ The areas near Surrey where you now have to pay the ULEZ charge, including Kingston and Chessington (www.getsurrey.co.uk)

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