TVCC has been championing efforts for the timely delivery of the WRLtH scheme for many years. As one of its greatest advocates, our approach has consistently been business-led, diligently working to identify and devise solutions to advance the scheme. We have maintained our efforts to ensure government, its departments, and the wider business community across the beneficiary geography, are aware of its economic, social, and environmental benefits and return on investment to UK plc and the taxpayer.
Economic Case
TVCC is leading a commission undertaking an ‘Economic Feasibility Study’ for the WRLtH scheme. Funded largely through private investment, the refresh study will test financial models for the scheme based on current conditions. Watch this space!
“We won’t stop lobbying for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow – it’s a game-changer for businesses and communities not only for our Thames Valley region, but for those across the southeast, southwest, Wales and into the Midlands. We are continuing to work with the APPG and MPs to bring the merits of the scheme to Parliament. Better connectivity to Heathrow, from the west, will help address some of the flashing indicators for our regional and national competitiveness, reduce car travel and costs, and unlock massive additional investment too – helping to meet many of the ambitions set-out in the government’s most recent Industrial Strategy”.
Paul Britton, Chief Executive, TVCC
We welcome the re-election of Tan Dhesi MP for Slough, as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for WRLtH, alongside his co-Chair Baroness May of Maidenhead, Treasurer Ruth Cadbury, MP for Brentford and Isleworth and Vice-Chair Matt Rodda, MP for Reading Central. TVCC continues to work closely with the APPG, and its members, to further advance the WRLtH scheme
For more information about how to support and getting involved in TVCC’s work on WRLtH please contact: Jess Harrison
Strong cross-Party consensus and ‘all as one’ to get the WRLtH scheme delivered
In April 2024, Tan Dhesi led a Parliamentary Adjournment Debate in Westminster. He called for government to “stop obfuscating, and provide the people of my Slough constituency, the wider Thames Valley region and beyond with a clear timeline for when we can expect the project to be finally set in action?”
During the Debate, The Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE KC, former South Swindon MP commented “I congratulate the Hon. Member on securing the Debate. We fully support his efforts and the work of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is to be commended for his work on this issue and has my full support.”
‘Heathrow supports Western Rail Link to Heathrow as a transformative rail project to deliver connectivity to millions of people in Wales, the West and South West of England. Instead of having to go into central London and back out again, Western Rail would provide a quicker, easier and more direct route to the UK’s hub airport. ‘
Nigel Milton, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer at Heathrow Airport
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“The Western Rail Link to Heathrow offers enormous benefits to residents and businesses in Reading, the Thames Valley and across the country. The link would cut the journey time from Reading Station to Heathrow to just 23 minutes and this fast, direct, service would attract jobs and growth to Reading. The Western Rail link would also reduce travel times from Wales, the Westcountry and parts of the Midlands by half an hour.
“The link would help protect the environment as it would have a significant impact on reducing pollution and congestion in Berkshire by getting very large numbers of cars off local roads and it would free up space at Reading Station for more local bus services by removing the need for a Rail-Air bus stop.”
Matt Rodda, Labour MP for Reading Central
“For the good people of Slough, the Thames Valley region and our country as a whole, the Western Rail Link to Heathrow would make travel to and from the busiest airport in the UK greatly more convenient, cutting traffic and congestion and stimulating our local economy…
…It would also ensure that 20% of our country’s population will be within one interchange of its busiest port; Heathrow.”
Tan Dhesi, MP for Slough
“Heathrow supports Western Rail Link to Heathrow as a transformative rail project to deliver connectivity to millions of people in Wales, the West and South West of England. Instead of having to go into central London and back out again, Western Rail would provide a quicker, easier and more direct route to the UK’s hub airport.
With four trains per hour to and from the Great Western Main Line, and journey times by rail cut by half an hour, thousands of jobs can be created and there would finally be a simple, public transport option for passengers coming from the west of Heathrow.
Delivering more sustainable travel options is essential to decarbonising transport in the UK, and Western Rail Link to Heathrow would provide the opportunity for a modal shift towards public transport which Heathrow and the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce will continue to champion.”
Nigel Milton, Chief of Staff, Heathrow Airport Ltd.
“The importance of having a direct western rail link from Dorset to Heathrow cannot be overstated. Upon completion, it will provide a much-needed alternative to road-based journeys taking traffic off an already congestion road network and reducing carbon emissions.
The key benefit for Dorset residents, taking the train from stations such as Poole and Bournemouth, is that it will significantly reduce journey times, bringing much of the region within one interchange to Heathrow”
Ian Girling, Chief Executive, Dorset Chamber
“The benefits of increasing services to the UK’s and Europe’s busiest airport are obvious for multiple destinations and customers across the GWR network – not least helping to shift journeys from private cars onto public transport.
With journey times to the airport from west of Reading reducing by a minimum of 30 minutes, the promise of 4 trains per hour between Reading and Heathrow and vastly improved connections from across the GWR network – Carmarthenshire to Cornwall – as well as bringing destinations like Oxford, Swindon and Didcot within the ‘golden hour’ for Foreign Direct Investors, the economic and environmental case is clear.
In addition, world-leading leisure destinations – such as Bath Spa, Devon & Cornwall, West Wales – become more attractive and accessible direct from Heathrow opening up the GWR network and destinations to a whole new customer.”
Mark Hopwood, Managing Director, Great Western Railway (GWR)
“WRLtH is not just a great scheme for the south-east issue; it affects Swindon and the western gateway, bringing great potential benefits to these areas, the southwest and Wales. I fully support the timely delivery of the scheme and the work of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce”.
The Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE KC, former MP for South Swindon
“A direct rail link connecting the West to Heathrow would have significant benefits for Bath and beyond. Not only would it improve connectivity and economic growth, but it also has important environmental benefits as it will allow more people to travel by rail rather than by car. It is absurd that so many people in the South West must travel into London first before getting to the airport. Hence, this impressive rail link would be instrumental in achieving our ambitious targets to decarbonise our transport system.”
Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath
“The importance of fast connectivity to major international hubs, including Heathrow airport, cannot be overstated. This is even more critical in the Southwest where poor transport connectivity has affected productivity. We fully support the Western Rail Link to Heathrow.”
Stuart Elford, Chief Executive, Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
“I support a rail link from Heathrow to points west and southwest because it would be of great benefit to my constituents in Wokingham and wider Thames Valley. It would reduce travel times, therefore increasing the number of people who choose to use the train, bringing environmental benefits as we get cars off the road.
It would also reduce the congestion to London Paddington on the Great Western Main Line, and therefore provide greater rail capacity for alternative services”
Clive Jones, MP for Wokingham and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Trade
What is the Western Rail Link to Heathrow and what are the benefits?
We sat down with the Chambers’ WRLtH Working Group Chair, Ruth Bagley, to ask her to answer some frequently asked questions about this important infrastructure project.
