2M Group aims to tackle Heathrow road congestion
The 2M Group, an alliance of 22 local authorities including Hammersmith and Fulham, has proposed an alternative rail scheme which could cut costs and take one million cars off the road every year.
The £1.5 billion scheme would provide through services from all sides of the airport and connections to 150 stations with up to 40 trains an hour.
The scheme’s ‘compass point’ network could be built at a third of the cost of the Heathrow hub scheme favoured by ministers. Instead of focusing on a high speed rail hub on the airport, the 2M scheme links up existing main lines to a new London to Scotland high speed rail line from Euston.
The plans have been developed as part of the 2M Group’s support for alternatives to uncontrolled Heathrow expansion. BAA’s own figures show that, even without the controversial third runway, passenger numbers at the airport will grow by a third by 2030.
Councillor Nicholas Botterill, speaking on behalf of the 2M Group, says: "Whether Heathrow gets a third runway or not, it desperately needs better rail access if west London’s roads are to cope with rising passenger numbers.
"Airtrack and Crossrail by themselves will not be enough, while spending £4.5 billion on a high speed hub that provides few local benefits would just drain resources from a genuine high speed link from Euston to the North.
"Our scheme takes all the existing and proposed lines around Heathrow and knits them together. It is a joined-up scheme and a common sense approach that we hope everyone concerned about the environmental impact of the airport will support."
February 10, 2009
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