Stansted pushes for improved access
Stansted is calling on local businesses, community leaders and regional organisations to push the government for upgrades to the rail links to the airport.
CEO Ken O’Toole said better connectivity in and out of the airport will further boost the local economy, make new journeys viable for local residents, ease access for the 12,000 on-site workforce and help attract a greater number of airlines and new destinations.
Speaking at the annual Stansted Area Transport Forum, O’Toole asked attendees to use the on-going Aviation Strategy consultation process as an opportunity to communicate direct to Government the need for better rail connections into Stansted.
"How easy it is for people to access Stansted, be they passengers, our workforce or business partners, will be one of the primary drivers behind our future growth – growth that will in turn ensure that the UK, and particularly the East of England, remains connected to international economies and all the opportunities they have to offer," he said.
"Airport development and surface access into airports should not be considered independently from each other; they should be considered together as part of an integrated transport strategy. Where surface access to airports is suitably well developed, economic activity that would otherwise not occur is generated; through tourism, international trade, productivity improvements and attracting of foreign investment."
O’Toole said often only ‘incremental improvements’ could make a ‘significant’ difference, with a 5% improvement in journey times to and from airports boosting traffic by 2.7%.
"Whilst there is much to cheer in terms of surface access into Stansted, a perennial area of focus for us since we acquired the airport in 2013, has been decreasing journey times between London and the airport – a move which will have significant benefits for passengers, our workforce and commuters," he said.
However, these requests have ‘fallen on deaf ears’ within central Government and Network Rail, despite a 143% increase in passengers since 2013, he said.
"Of course, journey time improvements require infrastructure investment. Whilst we are prepared to proportionately contribute to the costs involved in seeing journey times lowered, any significant improvement will require considerable investment," added O’Toole.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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