Proposed new railway link to Heathrow airport gets backing from Sadiq Khan

By Giles Gwinnett

6 September 2023

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Heathrow Airport

A plan for a new railway linking Heathrow airport with south west London, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire has received the backing of London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Heathrow Southern Railway Limited (HSRL) is proposing the scheme, which would see a new track laid from Terminal 5 station to the existing South Western Railway network at Staines.

From there, trains would travel through Twickenham and Richmond - or via Hounslow and Brentford - to reach Clapham Junction and Waterloo.

A second branch is proposed to run from Heathrow to Virginia Water, enabling services towards Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire.

HSRL propose to construct and own the infrastructure, estimated in 2016/17 to cost around £1.3bn.

The company reportedly said the train companies would then pay them an access charge to run passenger services - the framework for which would be regulated by the Office for Rail and Road.

The London mayor was reportedly asked about his support for the project in a written question by Caroline Pidgeon, the London Assembly’s Liberal Democrat group leader.

Khan reportedly said: "I welcome the useful role that a Southern Rail Link to Heathrow could play in supporting a shift to sustainable modes [of travel], while transforming access to Heathrow Airport for passengers and staff from south London, Surrey and Hampshire.

"I am aware that a number of factors coming together in recent months have increased the prospects of a scheme moving forward.

"The Greater London Authority and Transport for London maintain regular dialogue with a broad range of interested stakeholders as we look to resolve the issues which have obstructed progress to date, while ensuring that any scheme meets the needs of Londoners and does not impact the reliable operation of the railway network."

Currently, the only rail access into the airport is provided from central London, via the Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines, along with the Heathrow Express service.

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By Giles Gwinnett

Giles Gwinnett is a writer at The Business Magazine. He has been a journalist for more than 20 years and covered a vast array of topics at a range of media settings - in print and online. After his NCTJ newspaper training, he became a reporter in Hampshire before moving to a news agency in Gloucestershire. In recent years, he has been covering the financial markets along with company news for an investor-focused web portal. His many interests include politics, energy and the environment. He lives in Dorset.