A proposed new direct rail link from the West to Heathrow, which would speed up journeys to Britain’s busiest international airport, by allowing passengers to travel to the airport from the South Coast, South West, South Wales and West Midlands without going into Central London, has been delayed once again.
The Chamber, who are strong supporters of the project, have written to Chris Heaton-Harris, MP, Minister of State at the Department for Transport, expressing their disappointment, following the announcement of the latest delay to the Development Consent Order (DCO) application.
Paul Britton, CEO of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce commented “The delay, which could push the opening of the link back to 2031, is extremely disappointing to business across the Thames Valley and to private and public sector interests from Cornwall to Sussex and Wales to the Midlands, particularly when business and the aviation and tourism industries in particular need the stimulus of such a transformational project.”
Ruth Bagley, Chair of TVCC’s WRLtH Working Group, which co-ordinates TVCC’s drive to secure WRLtH, said “Whilst we understand the immediate problems the Government faces, we and our colleagues across the regions will continue to press for the earliest delivery of WRLtH and its long-term benefits to UK plc, to 14 million people, and to the Government’s levelling up and climate change agendas.”
WRLtH is –
WRLtH is a standalone scheme, with a strong economic, environmental and commercial case, based on a two-runway airport and independent of Heathrow’s proposed expansion.