THAMES VALLEY OPTIMISTIC FOR WESTERN RAIL LINK TO HEATHROW: bringing improved access to 14 million people Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) is increasingly optimistic that the Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH) will get the go ahead, after commissioning a recent study.
TVCC believes that there is a business model with a return on capital, which is attractive to potential investors and that with the co-operation of Government and Heathrow can be delivered.
The analysis, undertaken by Atkins Réalis, takes note of changes in rail services and passenger numbers since 2019, considers alternative financial structures and incentives, and reconsiders the capital estimates. Early indications are that this will show a positive outcome based on a two-runway airport and a stronger outcome should a third runway be built as part of plans for expanding Heathrow.
Paul Britton, CEO, TVCC said: "We are pleased to have been able to commission this most important study. It would not have been possible without the kind support and financial contributions from our members, and private sector partners, including GWR, Heathrow, Mapletree and SEGRO and the public sector support by Oxfordshire County and Slough Borough Councils. We are extremely pleased with the initial findings and encouraged that the report breathes new life into the delivery of the WRLtH scheme."
The report is timely, following the recent Government announcement on Heathrow expansion. While Heathrow must advance its own plans, including surface access improvements to mitigate impacts, early indications suggest a viable business model that could attract significant private investment and enable the link to proceed. This would deliver immediate benefits through better access to the existing airport and demonstrate all parties' commitment to reducing road traffic impacts.
The link delivers improved access to Heathrow, the UK's only international hub airport, for 20% of the UK's population. It will deliver economic, social, and environmental benefits to south Wales and several English regions including the Southwest, South central, Midlands and Thames Valley.
In 2019, WRLtH had business case approval from the Department for Transport and HM Treasury subject only to signature of a funding agreement between Heathrow and Government. Had Development Consent Order approval followed, the link was due to open around 2027. The world-wide pandemic led to the project being placed on pause.
TVCC, which has long been a champion for the link, then committed to finding a private finance solution, working closely with Heathrow and other partners to understand how WRLtH could be taken forward as soon as possible. The emerging proposal may provide an innovative model for private financing infrastructure schemes.
The scheme has strong backing from business, local authorities, politicians, tourism and education interests across the benefitting area and wide public support. It is backed by an All-Party Parliamentary Group co-chaired by Tan Dhesi, Labour MP for Slough and Baroness May of Maidenhead, the former Prime Minister.
The case for the link is based on a 6.5km route connecting the Western Mainline to Heathrow Terminal 5 largely via a 5km tunnel and served by four trains per hour from Reading via Slough. By reducing travel times to Heathrow by as much as 30 minutes for about 14 million people this will deliver:
- Economic growth, inward investment, regeneration, and new jobs – across multiple regions throughout England and Wales
- Mitigation of the airport's environmental impact, a contribution to UK's climate change targets and reduced congestion on the road network
- Increased inbound tourism opportunities.
- Increased opportunity for international research partnerships and student access
- Greater resilience of the rail network, customer choice, and reliability.
In 2010 the benefits based on a two-runway airport were assessed as:
- £800 million added GVA
- £1.5 billion in business efficiency savings
- 42,000 new jobs
- Reduced CO2 emissions equivalent to 30 million fewer road miles per year
TVCC considers this to be a well-developed project with a strong business case and multiple benefits. With the aim now to update the benefits assessment, TVCC anticipates that the gains will now be greater for a two-runway airport and significantly higher should a third runway be built. TVCC may also explore opportunities to extend services beyond the Reading–Heathrow shuttle should it secure phase 2 funding.
If this optimism is confirmed in the coming weeks, TVCC plans to work swiftly with Government and Heathrow to advance the delivery of this long-awaited scheme.
Ruth Bagley Chair of TVCC WRLtH Working Group, [email protected]
