CHISWICK TO HEATHROW RAIL LINK PLANNED

"A tram line along the A4 corridor could connect the airport with Chiswick and open up potential links with major employers at Chiswick Business Park"

With the new terminal at Heathrow likely to severely overburden existing transport infrastructure plans are being drawn up for a new light rail link to the airport from Chiswick. According to John Connelly, leader of Hounslow Council, there is a danger that the Piccadilly line will become useless as a commuter service with the advent of Terminal 5. The existing system is already over crowded and unreliable and the extra passengers using the new terminal could make it unusable for people trying to get to and from work.

He said "A tram line along the A4 corridor could connect the airport with Chiswick and open up potential links with major employers at Chiswick Business Park and the Western International Market."

Cllr. Connelly is suggesting that BAA should fund a new means of transport to Heathrow and the Council is proposing a light rail link. He stated that BAA should consider developing the network both as a form of compensation for local people and as a potentially profitable investment for themselves. BAA deny that Terminal 5 will cause major traffic problems saying that it will only add 2-3% to the existing number of cars on the A4/M4 between London and Heathrow. Their stated vision is for 50% of journeys to Heathrow to be made on public transport, compared to the current level of a third. At present the only transport project they are funding is the extension of the Heathrow Express to Terminal 5.

The Council is to spend £60,000 employing a firm of consultants to look at the feasibility of the scheme. At this stage it is estimated that the project would cost £70 million and take ten years to build.

The Council envisages opening bus and freight lanes on these roads which could then be converted to take the light rail system at later date. The results of the study into the scheme will be presented next year.

Could Terminal 5 be followed by Runway 3?

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