CHISWICK TO HEATHROW RAIL LINK PLANNED
"A
tram line along the A4 corridor could connect
the airport with Chiswick and open up potential
links with major employers at Chiswick Business
Park"
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With
the new terminal at Heathrow
likely to severely overburden
existing transport infrastructure
plans are being drawn up for
a new light rail link to the
airport from Chiswick.
According
to John Connelly, leader of
Hounslow Council, there is a
danger that the Piccadilly line
will become useless as a commuter
service with the advent of Terminal
5. The existing system is already
over crowded and unreliable
and the extra passengers using
the new terminal could make
it unusable for people trying
to get to and from work.
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He
said "A tram line along the A4 corridor
could connect the airport with Chiswick and
open up potential links with major employers
at Chiswick Business Park and the Western International
Market."
Cllr.
Connelly is suggesting that BAA should fund
a new means of transport to Heathrow and the
Council is proposing a light rail link. He
stated that BAA should consider developing
the network both as a form of compensation
for local people and as a potentially profitable
investment for themselves. BAA deny that Terminal
5 will cause major traffic problems saying
that it will only add 2-3% to the existing
number of cars on the A4/M4 between London
and Heathrow. Their stated vision is for 50%
of journeys to Heathrow to be made on public
transport, compared to the current level of
a third. At present the only transport project
they are funding is the extension of the Heathrow
Express to Terminal 5.
The
Council is to spend £60,000 employing
a firm of consultants to look at the feasibility
of the scheme. At this stage it is estimated
that the project would cost £70 million
and take ten years to build.
The
Council envisages opening bus and freight lanes
on these roads which could then be converted
to take the light rail system at later date.
The results of the study into the scheme will
be presented next year.
Could
Terminal 5 be followed by Runway 3?
West
London Transit Scheme
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