A report informing the Sub-Committee of the Borough Council’s response to the consultation by Network Rail regarding a proposed Western Rail Link to Heathrow Airport.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report that set out the Council’s response to the Network Rail consultation on the ‘Proposed Western Rail Link to Heathrow’ that sought to improve accessibility to Heathrow Airport based on exiting airport capacity.  The Council’s response to the consultation was attached to the report at Appendix A.

The report stated that Network Rail had carried out statutory public consultation on the proposed Western Rail Link to Heathrow, which formed part of the Railway Upgrade Plan, between 11 May and 22 June 2018.  The proposed link between the Great Western Mainline and Heathrow Airport, which would commence between Langley and Iver via a 5 km tunnel and merge with existing railway lines at Heathrow Terminal 5, was anticipated to generate the following benefits:

• Reduce rail journey times between Reading and Heathrow;
• Significantly improved rail connectivity to Heathrow from the Thames Valley, South Coast, South West, South Wales and the West Midlands;
• Provide an alternative form of transport for passengers and people who worked at the airport who currently travelled by road;
• Ease congestion on roads, including the M4, M3 and M25 and lower CO2 emissions;
• Generate economic growth and new jobs across the Thames Valley and surrounding area;
• Reduce passenger congestion at London Paddington.

The Council’s response to the consultation strongly supported the proposals for improved rail connectivity to Heathrow and its economic importance to the Thames Valley region.

The report stated that it should be noted that the Network Rail consultation had been based on existing airport capacity.  A separate consultation had been carried out by Heathrow on the proposed expansion and airspace principles between 17 January and 28 March 2018.  Feedback from the latter consultation was currently being analysed and further consultation was expected to be carried out by Heathrow on more detailed proposals in 2019.

Other surface access improvements were being considered as part of Heathrow expansion in response to the draft Airports National Policy Statement.  The Statement set out the requirements for any development consent and Surface Access Strategy to include details of how it would increase the proportion of journeys made to the airport by public transport, cycling and walking to at least 50% by 2030 and at least 55% by 2040 for passengers.

Resolved -    That the Council’s response to the consultation, as set out in Appendix A attached to the report, be noted.