Forum Topic

Third runway passes pollution test

I see the Times Online published this while I was on hols.http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,10295-2285706,00.htmlreferring to the Air Quality Technical Report published on 19 Julyhttp://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_aviation/documents/divisionhomepage/612123.hcspHowever, I don't see that the Times conclusion follows from the report.The Q&A for the report had the comment :Q. What does this all mean for the prospects for a third runway (and/or mixed mode) at Heathrow?A. It is too early to say. Application of the Panel's recommendations should enable us to conduct a more robust assessment of Heathrow's future air quality, but it is not until the methodology has been put in place and the air quality modelling carried out, that we will know whether a third runway and/or mixed mode is more or less likely.Anyone know if there has been more comment on this in the last fortnight ?

Tim Henderson ● 6880d5 Comments

I see that ATS still seem to be in the running for a pilot project (Jun 2006):ATS Begins Heathrow PilotATS have started the work programme under contract to BAA which will lead to the Pilot operation at Heathrow. The planned route for the pilot is from the N3 passenger car park to the new Heathrow Terminal 5. The route requires 4.2 km of track including station loops, and 18 vehicles. The guideway will connect into the Multi Story Car Park at T5 to provide a station at the entrance to the Terminal. The system will open for carrying passengers in Summer 2008 following the opening of T5 in March 2008.Martin Lowson CEO of ATS said "This is another major step for the ULTra PRT system and is a result of the excellent joint efforts of the ATS and BAA teams".

Tim Henderson ● 6873d

After the events of the last couple of days it may just be that we have already seen the peak of air travel for a few decades. If every trip involves a two hour wait for security checking then increasingly it won't make sense to fly. There is no point in building capacity that won't be used.

Andy Jones ● 6875d

Unless someone comes up with a method of powering aircraft that uses much less fuel than current we're unlikely to see the increase in demand of air passengers that BAA says justifies a 3rd Runway at LHR. What's most likely to happen is a flattening of air passenger numbers.

Paul Davis ● 6879d

I haven't seen any comment since the Times report, which looked as though it had heavy input from Lord Soley of the Future Heathrow campaign.  The version printed in the paper itself included a map showing a stretch of the M4 in tunnel, a £20 charge for entering Heathrow via the road tunnel from the M4, new car parks north of the M4 near the M25 junction and a monorail to carry people between these new car parks and the 5 terminals.None of this, as far as I could see, was derived from the Air Quality Technical Report.  Someone was flying a kite, I suspect.  The inclusion of a monorail proposal is often a sign of this.  It reminds me of a report by Dick Murray in the Standard in July 2004 which said "Talks are taking place with Advanced Transport Systems (ATS) which says a monorail could be in place by 2006".

Richard Jennings ● 6880d

TimI do some of my work at Heathrow and the way I have seen things done over the last 40 odd years there you can safley say that yes there will be a third runway and maybe a fourth because BAA and the goverment won't worry about the likes of us that live around LHR, also as BAA have sold out or are trying to sell out then there must be something for the new owner? And the three buildings (Fed Ex Transglobal & Exel)that have come down on the A30 are being cleared for a reason they say it will be more hotels, more hotels = more people = more flights?

Edward Fitzgerald ● 6880d