Council to Promote New Heathrow Link Plan
Scheme could provide a direct service from local train stations to airport
Hounslow Council is to continue to pursue the option for a new rail link with Heathrow which would mean a direct service between local stations and Terminal 5.
A report commissioned by the Council has suggested a that a new piece of track branching of from the line towards Windsor, partially on a viaduct (east of the A30) and partially in tunnel (west of the A30) with a station in the vicinity of the Clockhouse Roundabout in Bedfont had the potential to provide a direct service from Waterloo. In doing so it would pass through stations such as Brentford, Chiswick, Isleworth, Kew Bridge and Syon Lane.
The report concludes that there was a favourable cost/benefit ratio to the plan which would cost less than £1 billion to implement and claims that it would represent ‘Very High Value for Money’ as defined by Department for Transport guidance.
The study by consultants at WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff builds on previous analysis of rail links in this area including the Airtrack service that was suggested by BAA in 2009 and a report commissioned in 2013 by Wandsworth Council and written by SKM Buchanan which recommended a number of options including tunnelled track from the Feltham area. The latest proposal reduces the amount of tunnelling required which significantly decreases the cost of implementation.
The plan would see a reduction in open green space in the area and involve a significant degree of visual intrusion due to the rail viaduct that would need to be built to provide the link. It would also probably require the demolition of properties at Wooldridge Court. When the Council launched a consultation on the scheme just over half of the 127 respondents were in favour with the majority who were against residents of homes that were threatened by the plan.
Diagram from previous report showing possible new routes to Heathrow
The current ‘Control Period’ on this section of the local railway runs until March 2019 by which time South West Trains have committed plans to increase the peak frequency of trains on the 'Windsor Lines' from 15tph to 18tph. Ultimately the capacity of this section of the railway is believed to be 20tph which might mean that services would need to be reduced elsewhere if a regular service to Heathrow was to be introduced. It was recently announced that Transport for London is likely to take over all London suburban railway lines when the current franchises expire.
Hounslow Council’s Cabinet considered the report at a recent meeting and authorised the Executive Director of Regeneration, Economic Development and Environment (REDe) to promote the scheme further.
February 2, 2016
