A proposed new direct rail link from the West to Heathrow - Have your say

22 June 2018

A public consultation has started with plans to build a new 6.5km rail link between the Great Western Main Line and London Heathrow Airport. According to Network Rail, the proposed rail connection would speed up journeys to Britain’s busiest international airport, by allowing passengers to travel to the airport from the South Coast, South West, South Wales and West Midlands without going into London Paddington.

The Western Rail Link to Heathrow would leave the Main Line between Langley and Iver. It would then descend underneath the main railway line into a cutting before entering a 5km tunnel. The tunnel would pass under Richings Park and Colnbrook and then merge with existing rail lines underground at Heathrow Terminal 5.

According to Network Rail the proposed rail link would:

• Reduce rail journey times between Reading and Heathrow by delivering a new, faster, frequent, more reliable direct train service to Heathrow with four trains per hour in each direction. All trains would call at Reading and Slough and alternate trains at Twyford and Maidenhead. Journey times could be as short as 26 minutes from Reading and 6 to 7 minutes from Slough.
• Significantly improve rail connectivity to Heathrow from the Thames Valley, South Coast, South West, South Wales and West Midlands.
• Provide an alternative form of transport for passengers and the large number of people who work at the airport who are currently travelling by road.
• Ease congestion on roads, including the M4, M3 and M25 resulting in lower CO₂ emissions equivalent to approximately 30 million road miles per year.
• Generate economic growth and new jobs across the Thames Valley and surrounding areas.
• Reduce passenger congestion at London Paddington.

You can find the online survey here so why not have your say and give feedback on the proposals.