AirTrack is a very close fit with local, regional and national strategy and policy. It is identified as a priority project in the current approved South East Regional Transport Strategy, SEEDA's (South East England Development Agency) Economic Strategy, the Surrey Structure Plan and a number of Local Transport Plans. In Autumn 2004, the SRA (Strategic Rail Authority) stated that it viewed AirTrack as the second step in improving rail access to Heathrow, preceded only by Heathrow Connect (local services on the Heathrow Express route to Paddington). Heathrow Connect commenced operations in early 2005. AirTrack was the only completely new transport scheme anticipated in BAA's draft interim masterplan for Heathrow, published in Summer 2005.

The August 2007 Panel Report, from the EIP (Examination in Public) of the new South East Plan, re-confirmed the importance of the AirTrack scheme, describing it as "critical to the spatial strategy".

The project has explicit support from key London stakeholders including Transport for London and the Mayor.

Since 2006, BAA/HAL (Heathrow Airport Ltd) have been developing a specific and detailed scheme proposal - "Heathrow Airtrack", which substantially reflects the scheme concept championed by the AirTrack Forum, but now includes some important revisions (see Infrastructure Requirements and Proposed Services). 

BAA held two stages of public consultation on the proposal during 2008, from February to April and then from October to December.  The second stage included feedback gathered from the first stage consultation.  A series of public exhibitions were held in areas affected by the scheme.

In July 2009, HAL submitted an application to the Secretary of State for Transport for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992, seeking powers to construct, maintain and operate the railway and to acquire the necessary land and associated planning consents. 

This is a significant step forward in ensuring that AirTrack is built.  Full details of Heathrow Airtrack and the application, are available via BAA's Heathrow Airtrack web page (see link below).

Following submission of this application, there was a 56 day period for representations about the proposals to be lodged with the Secretary of State for Transport.   This ran from July to September 2009 and is therefore now closed.   Objections to the scheme were required to be lodged during that period, though it is understood that expressions of support can still be received by the Secretary of State.

Please note that the AirTrack Forum has no responsibility for the content of the application to the Secretary of State.

It was originally anticipated that a Public Inquiry in to the scheme might take place in early 2010, but additional detailed work on timetabling and level crossing downtimes has resulted in the likelihood that the Inquiry will be delayed to the Autumn of 2010.

If permission is obtained and a funding package can be agreed, construction could begin in early 2012, with commencement of services in early 2016.

Click here to link to the BAA Heathrow Airtrack web page for more information about the Heathrow Airtrack proposals and application to the Secretary of State.