Last month Network Rail launched their consultation on the proposals for Western Rail Access to Heathrow (WRAtH). It is hoped that the proposed new link will deliver up to four trains per hour, directly connecting Reading to the airport via Slough, with a journey time of just 28 minutes. In turn it will also improve access for those based on the south coast, south west England, south Wales and the West Midlands, giving around 20 per cent of the UK population access to Heathrow via one interchange.
The much campaigned for link would bring significant economic benefits for the growing number of businesses in the Thames Valley region and beyond, with business groups claiming the route could create up to 40,000 new jobs and up to £2bn in economic benefits, and will help to relieve congestion on the M4, M25 and M3 motorways.
A new junction would be created on the Great Western main line between Langley and Iver with a 5km tunnel then connecting to existing rail platforms at Heathrow Terminal 5.
Stephen Holt, Partner at Haslams commented “A rail link to Heathrow is another in a long list of transport gains for Reading. This in addition to the multi million pound station redevelopment, the Crossrail connection and a new station at Green Park will make the town incredibly well connected to the rest of the UK and international markets, which will be a significant draw to businesses looking to relocate.”
A steering group of industry leaders from organisations including Network Rail, Department for Transport, Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, Slough Borough Council and Heathrow Airport is working together to progress the proposals.
If the scheme is granted consent, construction could begin in Spring/Summer 2017 and is expected to take around four years to complete.
For further information or to submit your comments on the scheme please click here to visit Network Rail’s consultation website.
https://consultations.networkrail.co.uk/communications/western-heathrow-link
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Tanya Le Sueur