SWELTRAC - Uniting London's Transport
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AirTrack

SWELTRAC is generally supportive of proposals for the new AirTrack Network to serve Heathrow Airport. It is an important component of the airport's Surface Access Strategy to achieve greater levels of sustainable travel to and from the site. There have been two consulations phases on the project so far, the last of which was held in December 2009 regarding the Environmental Statement for the Transport and Works Act (TWA) application. The target for delivery of the scheme is 2014. O

Two issues of particular concern for SWELTRAC relate to the potential increase in downtime at road crossings and the proposing stabling yard at Feltham. We are working closely with BAA, the Department of Transport, Network Rail and SouthWest Trains to try to overcome these concerns and mitigate against any impact the project may have on existing services and on the road network.

AirTrack is....

  • A proposal to connect Heathrow directly to the SouthWest Trains Rail Network.

  • A proposed new service providing three routes into Terminal 5 from London Waterloo via Richmond; Guildford via Woking and Reading via Bracknell, with stops at selected stations on each route.

  • Planned to operate every 30 minutes in each direction on each route, making six trains an hour from Heathrow, with end-to-end journey times of between 35 and 45 minutes.

  • To run over 95km of the existing rail network.

  • Going to require construction of just 4km of new railway to connect the new station at Terminal 5 to the existing Windsor line near Staines (to allow trains to access the existing line to Reading).

AirTrack Network

airtrack

AirTrack will...

  • Create direct or one-change rail access to Heathrow for air passengers from across south and south west London and southern England, who currently have no rail link to the airport. CAA data (2006) shows approximately 22% of air passengers and 50% of staff live in areas that would have a direct rail service to Heathrow as a result of AirTrack.

  • Attract over 13 million passengers per annum, one third travelling to or from Heathrow.

  • Reduce local road congestion (5,000 fewer car journeys per day in the morning peak) and improve access for the thousands of people who work at Heathrow and the surrounding area.

  • Offer car users a realistic alternative in one of the most congested parts of the South East - especially for orbital journeys where public transport is currently poor.

  • Benefit businesses across the region by acting as a catalyst for new developments and improved labour mobility.

  • Provide more capacity on the suburban rail network, particularly to Waterloo, thus reducing crowding for existing passengers.

For further information, please visit the AirTrack Forum Website.