Heathrow Southern Railway Ltd have today announced that Chief Executive Mark Livock will be stepping down from his role at the end of July 2025. As Heathrow Southern Railway gets ready for the next stage in its development the board have undertaken a review of roles and responsibilities. Mark has led HSR Ltd since 2023 and used his decades of experience to steer the project through key moments in the project’s development as the country recovers from the pandemic.
HSR Ltd Chair, Jo Valentine, said:
“ On behalf of the board I would like to thank Mark for his service as chief executive of HSR, he has been a constant source of wise counsel and his knowledge of the sector has helped HSR move towards the next stage in its development. He has established the project, helped professionalise our activities and prepared us for the next stage in realising the potential of this transformative project. We wish Mark well and thank him again for the hard work and dedication he has brought to HSR.
In the interim whilst the board undertakes the appointment of a new Chief Executive the existing team will cover Mark’s responsibilities.”
About Heathrow Southern Railway
HSRL is the independent private sector venture set up to transform the rail network serving Britain’s busiest airport. HSRL’s plan is to unlock vastly easier access to Heathrow Airport through the construction of up to 8 miles of new railway from the west end of the existing Terminal 5 station, linking with the railway lines coming out of London Waterloo.
When complete, the new railway will open up access to Heathrow from key locations by enabling trains to operate between Heathrow and London Waterloo via Clapham Junction, Putney, Hounslow, Twickenham, Richmond, Staines and other intermediate stations; and between Heathrow, Woking, Guildford, Farnborough and Basingstoke. Direct trains could operate to Heathrow from as far away as the south coast.
The new railway will also improve connectivity between Surrey and London for commuters, creating a new route from Basingstoke, Guildford and Woking via Heathrow Airport to Old Oak Common (for HS2 and the Elizabeth Line) and London Paddington. In addition, it would provide for an extension of the Elizabeth Line to Staines-upon-Thames.
For further information visit www.heathrowrail.com or contact Mark.P.Willliams@aecom.com
Notes for editors:
- HSRL intends to create fast, easy and relaxing rail access to Heathrow Airport by building 8 miles of rail infrastructure from the west end of the existing Terminal 5 station, enabling trains to run from Woking, Guildford and Basingstoke to Heathrow Airport and on to Old Oak Common (for HS2) and London Paddington (for the Elizabeth Line).
- Heathrow Southern Railway will also enable electric trains to operate between Heathrow Airport and London’s Waterloo terminus via Clapham Junction, Putney, Hounslow, Twickenham, Richmond, Staines and other intermediate stations. Waterloo East and Clapham Junction will make Heathrow accessible from Kent and Sussex with just one change of train.
- The best rail journey times projected by HSRL are 16 minutes from Woking to Heathrow, 26 minutes from Guildford to Heathrow and 6 minutes from Staines upon Thames to Heathrow.
- HSRL forecasts that the new railway will remove 86 million car kilometres from the road network each year, will be used by 33,000 passengers per day and could be open by 2032.
- In August 2023, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan told the London Assembly he welcomes “the useful role that a Southern Rail Link to Heathrow could play in supporting a shift to sustainable modes, while transforming access to Heathrow Airport for passengers and staff from South London, Surrey and Hampshire. I am aware that a number of factors coming together in
recent months have increased the prospects of a scheme moving forward. The Greater London Authority and Transport for London maintain regular dialogue with a broad range of interested stakeholders as we look to resolve the issues which have obstructed progress to date, while ensuring that any scheme meets the needs of Londoners and does not impact
the reliable operation of the railway network.”
