Heathrow Rail Link Withdrawn, But MP Vows To Carry On
The title of this post, is the same as that as this article on Rail Magazine.
These are the first three paragraphs.
Hopes for a rail link between the Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Airport appear to have finally ended.
The scheme had been on hold since 2021, when Network Rail staff working on it were transferred to other tasks.
At the time, NR called it a “controlled pause”, but a pre-application process has now been withdrawn, according to the Planning Inspectorate website.
Currently, the two main routes to Heathrow from the Great Western Main Line are.
- Continue to Paddington and get either the Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth Line to the airport.
- Use the RailAir bus from Reading to the airport.
Both routes probably encourage passengers and staff to drive to the airport.
I have my thoughts.
Tan Dhesi
The article says this about this MP’s support for the rail link.
However, Slough MP Tan Dhesi, a former shadow transport minister, believes the link still has wide support as it would bring 20% of the UK population within one interchange of its busiest airport.
Dhesi led an All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow before the General Election. He now plans to re-launch the group, as some previous members have since lost their seats.
He has a point, but is this because a large number of his constituents work at Heathrow.
Would an improved local bus service, at least partially serve the need?
RailAir Between Reading And Heathrow
This appears to have two drawbacks.
- It only runs every thirty minutes.
- It doesn’t serve Terminal Four.
But at least it runs modern coaches, not buses.
I would increase the frequency to perhaps every twenty or even fifteen minutes, serve Terminal Four and perhaps in the future, switch to Wrightbus’s new hydrogen coaches, which I wrote about in Wrightbus Hydrogen Coach Planned For 2026.
I feel that switching to hydrogen power, may attract more passengers to the route.
Obviously, I feel the other RailAir routes from Guildford, Watford and Woking to Heathrow would also be updated.
Improving The Rail Route Between Reading And Heathrow Via Hayes And Harlington Station
Hayes and Harlington station has the following frequencies to Heathrow and Reading, in trains per hour (tph)
- Heathrow Terminals Two & Three – 6 tph
- Heathrow Terminal Four – 4 tph
- Heathrow Terminal Five – 2 tph
- Maidenhead – 2 tph
- Reading – 2 tph
More trains between Reading and Hayes and Harlington might encourage more passengers to use the trains.
Could Hayes And Harlington Station Become A Transport Hub For Heathrow?
This Google Map shows Hayes and Harlington station.
Note.
- It has platforms on all four tracks of the Great Western Main Line.
- There is a London-facing bay platform to terminate Elizabeth Line trains, if needed.
- The land to the North of the station has been developed.
- There is land to the South of the station that could be developed.
Could the space above the tracks, with some of the land to the South of the station be developed into a transport hub for Heathrow?
Heathrow Southern Railway
I prefer the Heathrow Southern Railway, which is a comprehensive, privately funded scheme.
The Anonymous Widower 
The reason Terminal 4 isn’t served by Railair is that the company take advantage of the fact that Inter-terminal transfer is free by train, Underground and H30 bus, using Oyster or contactless for trains and Underground, which isn’t charged.
Comment by fammorris | August 31, 2024 |
The reason Terminal 4 isn’t served by Railair is that the company take advantage of the fact that Inter-terminal transfer is free by train, Underground and H30 bus, using Oyster or contactless for trains and Underground, which isn’t charged.
Comment by fammorris | August 31, 2024 |
“Rail passengers from west of the airport have to travel via London Paddington to catch the Heathrow Express, or alternatively take the RailAir Bus from Reading.”
I feel this to be a somewhat misleading statement due to the ability of GWR trains from the west to stop at Hays & Harlington (HH) where Elizabeth Line trains also stop.
As for your comment on the possibility of H&H becoming a Hub. I totally agree.
In fact in the accommodation world this seems to have already happened, all be, much of it seems to be non-mainstream and is in the form AB&B. Add to this the fact that at present room rates are low compared to Central London and EL gives very good access to Londons tourist core its a no brainer.
If one adds the potential for transit use and tourist stay together I feel the number of stoping GWR trains must rise. and the area will morph into a cross between Clapham Junction & The Euston/Kings Cross accommodation hub. The only counter to this being a significant number “undesirables” in the area.
Comment by Martin | August 31, 2024 |
Thirty years ago, my company had offices in the area and I never heard complaints about undesirables.
Our problem was customers, who took taxis to our offices from the airport and often had problems with the taxi-driver.
Lizzie has fixed that problem!
Comment by AnonW | August 31, 2024 |
My experiences are more recent and mainly refer to the area around the canal bridge & High Street.
We never had a problem but nowadays thanks to the media, perceptions seem more important than experience.
Going back to the traffic interchange scenario, HH, great for Lizzie to C London & LHR. West Drayton Lizzie & GWR (Oxford and West) are the last two good locations in West London for picking up a boat going north out of London.
This sort of traffic is very small beer and is not picked up in stats as boat passengers are not seen by Jo public and are almost impossible to record.
We sold our boat last year so most of my experience is pre the full opening of the Lizzie but even pre Lizzie opening we used them both often as pick up & drop off points. Happy Days.
Comment by Martin | August 31, 2024
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