Heathrow ‘misses the point’ in claiming connectivity benefits from new rail lines, yet unbuilt
Heathrow will claim, in its runway submission to the Airports Commission on 16th May, that it can offer the shortest journey times (compared to Gatwick or the Thames estuary) to cities such as Sheffield, Bristol and Manchester and will do the most to bring growth to those regions by connecting them to international markets. Heathrow is arguing that the arrival of HS2, Crossrail, upgrades to London Underground’s Piccadilly line and the proposed rail link to the Great Western line will make access to the expanded airport much better, even with a 3rd runway. Heathrow will factor the rail links into its plans, even though only Crossrail is under construction and the other lines are only at various stages of planning. HS2 was voted through the Commons this week, but the plan to link it to the airport is on hold. HACAN says the airport’s owners have missed the point on this, as all the rail and road links will struggle to cope with the extra number of passengers that will use Heathrow if a 3rd runway is build. A new runway would mean another 260,000 or so flights a year. It is likely that the extra journeys generated by a 3rd runway would threaten gridlock on local roads and public transport networks.”
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Heathrow ‘misses the point’ in surface access claims, says campaign group
2.5.2014 (HACAN)
The campaign group HACAN, which oppose the expansion of Heathrow Airport, has claimed that the airport’s owners have missed the point with their announcement today that new rail links such as Crossrail will give it the best connections of any airport in the UK to all areas of the country, including the regions,.
HACAN chair John Stewart said: “Heathrow may well become the best-connected airport in the country but today’s announcement misses the real point. All the rail and road links will struggle to cope with the extra number of passengers that will use Heathrow if a third runway is build. A new runway would mean another 260,000 or so flights a year. Today’s announcement by the airport misses the real point. It is a half-truth”
Stephen Joseph, the director of The Campaign for Better Transport, which has done work on the future surface access needs of Heathrow, commenting on today’s announcement, said “Our research showed that the public transport improvements planned around Heathrow are needed just to keep pace with London’s growing economy. We await the airport’s new proposals with interest, but the risk is that extra journeys generated by a third runway would threaten gridlock on local roads and public transport networks.”
Later this month Heathrow Airport intends to submit their views on access to the airport to the Airports Commission which is looking at proposals for future airport expansion in London and the South East.
www.hacan.org.uk
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The FT article to which this refers is below ( extracts):
May 2, 2014
Heathrow focuses on rail links in case for expansion
By Jane Wild (FT )
Heathrow will argue that new rail links such as HS2 and Crossrail will help it build on its position as the best-connected airport to the UK’s regions, as it steps up its campaign to be allowed to expand.
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Heathrow will argue [to the Airports Commission in its submission, due on 16th May] that it offers the shortest journey times to cities such as Sheffield, Bristol and Manchester and will do the most to bring growth to those regions by connecting them to international markets. It will make HS2, Crossrail, upgrades to London Underground’s Piccadilly line and the proposed rail link to the Great Western line part of its case.
Colin Matthews, chief executive, said: “Heathrow is already the UK’s best-connected transport hub. It is in a better location for most UK passengers and companies than other options for airport expansion.”
Heathrow said it was confident it could factor the rail links into its plans, despite work having begun only on Crossrail. The others are at various stages of planning. HS2 was voted through the Commons this week, but the plan to link it to the airport is on hold.
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Not all regions have offered support. Birmingham chambers has previously attacked Heathrow’s claim it would benefit the whole country, saying it misunderstood businesses, which want to use their local airport.
Campaigners warned that the railways would be strained by the millions of extra passengers a third runway would bring.
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Full FT article at
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3fd46a60-d147-11e3-81e0-00144feabdc0.html#axzz30aJMzZno