Heathrow Rail Links Mentioned in Parliamentary Questions and Debates
Seema Malhotra MP/Andrew Jones MP – 18th January 2019
Seema Malhotra MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report entitled, Southern Rail Link to Heathrow Market Sounding, published by his Department in December 2018, what progress his Department has made on the publication of a (a) process and (b) timeframe in relation to the (i) development and (ii) completion of a Southern Rail Link to Heathrow. (207579)
Andrew Jones MP: The Market Sounding Findings Report, published by the Department in December 2018, indicated significant interest for development and financing of the Southern Rail Link to Heathrow. This interest from the market aligns with my intention for future private sector involvement and we remain keen to advance this project in order to deliver quicker and easier journeys for millions of holidaymakers and business travellers across the south of England. The report concluded that Government now needs to further clarify the outcomes we want to be delivered from this project. We are committed to doing this as quickly as possible following which we intend to set out further opportunities for market involvement.
Andy Slaughter MP/Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP – 10th January 2019
Andy Slaughter MP: Piccadilly Line Capacity The Secretary of State has mentioned the Piccadilly line upgrade, but he knows that that—and, indeed, Crossrail—is there to cope with existing and future passenger demand, and not Heathrow expansion. Given that we know that Heathrow, as always, will do nothing to cope with the problems that it causes, what will the Government do when there is this massive increase in passengers, a 50% increase in flights and no capacity on those lines to deal with those?
Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP: Even an expanded Heathrow is forecast to need only 6% of capacity on the Piccadilly line and, as I said a moment ago, we are already moving ahead with western access and starting the process of southern access. I am making provision for a Chiltern route into Old Oak Common, connecting to Heathrow by Crossrail, and HS2 will come to Old Oak Common as part of the first phase of that project. I think we are doing rather a lot to prepare for surface access to Heathrow.
Ruth Cadbury MP/Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP – 10th January 2019
Ruth Cadbury MP: The terminal 5 inspector recommended that that expansion should be dependent on additional rail access, and we have seen the consequences locally of that not having happened. The Department for Transport’s own figures say that a third runway will put an additional 54,000 vehicles a day on our local road system. Will the Secretary of State make any further expansion at Heathrow conditional on western and southern rail access?
Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP: I want to go further than that. Western rail access is currently in development and we are in the early stages of preparation for southern rail access. We are also making provision at Old Oak Common for a Chiltern connection into that station that will provide a link into Heathrow. High Speed 2, of course, will arrive at Old Oak Common and deliver an opportunity to connect into Heathrow from a different route. Finally, it is my hope that the Mayor of London will, notwithstanding the financial challenges at Transport for London, deliver the Piccadilly line upgrade, which is so important.
Ruth Cadbury MP/Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP – 10th January 2019
Ruth Cadbury MP: What steps he plans to take to reduce a potential increase in highway vehicle trips resulting from a third runway at Heathrow airport.(908479)
Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP: As the hon. Lady will be aware, the airports national policy statement requires 50% of passengers to use public transport by 2030, rising to 55% by 2040. It also requires 25% fewer staff car trips to work by 2030, and 50% fewer by 2040. In addition, I expect Heathrow to meet its public pledge of no greater airport-related road traffic.