February 2010 - Update
July 2009 - Application
Autumn 2008 - Second Round Consultation
Summer 2008 - TWA progress
2007 - Wider Economic Benefits Study
February 2010 - Update
Since late 2009, BAA/HAL (Heathrow Airport Ltd) have been undertaking further work on timetabling and level crossing downtimes for the proposed Heathrow Airtrack services to Waterloo, Reading, and Guildford. This is not expected to be complete until spring 2010, following which additional information will made available as an addendum to the Environmental Statement. It was originally anticipated that a Public Inquiry in to the scheme might take place in early 2010, but the additional detailed work has resulted in the likelihood that this will be delayed to the Autumn of 2010.
Full details of the latest Heathrow Airtrack proposals and the associated Transport and Works Act application, are available via BAA's Heathrow Airtrack web page. To link to this, click here.
Please note that the AirTrack Forum has no responsibility for the content of the application to the Secretary of State.
July 2009 - Application
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.
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.
Autumn 2008 - Consultation
As part of the progress towards a TWA (Transport & Works Act) Order for the Heathrow Airtrack project, BAA consulted widely on various aspects of the proposal during 2008. A first-stage consultation, focusing specifically on the works required in Staines and to create the new line between Staines and Terminal 5, took place between February and April 2008. A second phase of public consultation was conducted from October to December 2008, covering developments arising from the first consultation and also looking at wider aspects of the scheme.
Summer 2008 - TWA progress
Following the announcement in late 2006 that BAA would provide the funding for HAL to promote a Transport Works Act Order (TWA) for the AirTrack scheme; during 2008, BAA was undertaking the necessary work to prepare for such an application.
Work included activity to verify that additional capacity for services exists or could be created on the rail network, together with a detailed engineering assessment of the work required to provide the link from Staines to Heathrow. Consultants were appointed to undertake the significant work necessary on environmental and sustainability issues; detailed demand modelling assisted in refining the business case; Options for train operation and maintenance were investigated.
2007 - Wider Economic Benefits Study
During 2007, the AirTrack Forum commissioned consultants SDG to undertake a detailed study in to the Wider Economic Benefits of the AirTrack proposal (the WEB study). The objective was to assess benefits which may not have been captured by previous studies, in line with guidance from the Department for Transport current at the time.
The initial WEB study results, announced at the Forum's 2007 Annual Meeting, indicated that the Benefit:Cost Ratio for the project would improve by around 30% if the additional benefits assessed by the study were included. It also found the potential for further additional contribution arising from improved access to Heathrow; a potential for additional employment generation in the immediate local area to the second station in Staines, which at the time formed part of the scheme (see Infrastructure Requirements), and increased productivity throughout the AirTrack corridor.
Further details can be found on the "Wider Economic Benefits" page of this website and the final report of the study can be accessed via the Reports and Publications page.
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