30 September 2008

Heathrow owner rejects Tory high speed rail plan

BAA, the owner of Heathrow, has rejected suggestions by the Conservatives for a UK high speed rail link instead of a third runway at the airport.

A Ã&#pound;20 billion TGV-style line would connect London with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, cutting 66,000 flights a year from Heathrow.

The proposal was reportedly described by shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers as a ââ¬Åâœseriously green decisionââ¬~ on the eve of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.

But a BAA spokesman said: "BAA believes this country needs both a third runway at Heathrow and high speed rail. To prioritise one over the other is a false choice and will put Britain's future competitiveness at risk.

ââ¬ÅâœIt is not clear how this proposal will resolve the lack of airport capacity, a problem which must urgently be addressed.

ââ¬ÅâœThe total number of flights to Manchester and Leeds/Bradford is only 13,356 or less than 3% of Heathrow's total flights.

ââ¬ÅâœEven if every flight from Manchester and Leeds/Bradford were replaced by a new high speed rail line then Heathrow would still be operating at 97% of capacity.

ââ¬ÅâœThere are currently no flights from Birmingham to Heathrow."

BAR UK, which represents over 90 scheduled airlines in the UK in their dealings with Government, said the Tories' decision would "seriously impact the economic well-being of the UK".

"Their rationale simply doesnââ¬â¢t match the facts, and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the airport and its workings," said a statement.

"Multi-national companies are liable to move off-shore, and Heathrow will fade away as an international hub airport; the UK will be the big loser."

BAR UK chief executive Mike Carrivick added: "Railways do have a part to play in airport operations.

"Our airlines will welcome highââ¬'speed rail links at Heathrow, and preferably ones that avoid London all together. However, the share of domestic services that they will replace is still small and does not impinge on the urgent need to expand the airport.

"The introduction of mixed-mode runway operations is a vital first step to resilience and growth at Heathrow, before the construction of a third runway.

"None of this will require public expenditure."

by Phil Davies and Bev FearisÃ~

• PRINT
• SEND TO A FRIEND
• SHARE

Post your comment

Your Comments (3)

, be the first to post a comment.
Your email:

Your comment title:


Your comment:

Email other comments made to this story

5 characters

• More customers for LON?
  
  

  The fast rail links could be bringing even more customers into London airports, instead of using the regional ones.

  By Helen Blamey, Tuesday, September 30, 2008
• Dr Beeching you muppet
  
  

  Apart from the fact that no airport likes to see itself under threat from alternative forms of transport, I have to say that rejecting trains as a viable form of transport is incredibly short sighted regardless of the reasoning. Ever since the drastic cutting of 4000 route miles by Dr Beeching in the 1960's we have needed more rail not less. So bring on the high speed rail plan, bring on the airport links suggested by Mr Eliatamby and why not bring on an "outer circle" undergound link linking up the ends of the undergound routes as well.

  By Alexander Carraro, Tuesday, September 30, 2008
• LHR/LGW
  
  

  It sounds rather obvious but how about a high speed rail link between LHR and LGW.This could go on to link STN and LTN too.

  By Sam Eliatamby, Monday, September 29, 2008