Rail plan to link airports
THE PROPOSED HS4AIR WOULD SEE TRAINS RUN GET FROM HEATHROW TO GATWICK IN 15 MIBUTES
A PROPOSED high speed rail line which would get people at Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport in just 15 minutes would see a new train link built next to the M25.
The project, named HS4Air, would run from just north of Heathrow to Gatwick and then east to Ashford in Kent.
It would involve tunnels being dug under the Surrey Hills.
There would be three sections of tunnel, running under part of Mole Valley, Gatwick, and under Staines and Heathrow.
The rest of the route would be overground and after leaving Gatwick travelling east, it would would cut across the A22 between Newchapel and Blindley Heath, past Lingfield to Edenbridge where it would head along the existing railway between Tonbridge and Ashford, to connect up with the forthcoming HS2 line.
Engineering firm Expedition and architects Weston Williamson have submitted the proposal in answer to a call for private sector projects by the Department of Transport (DoT).
The initial proposal was submitted for consideration to the DoT at the end of July and the government is expected to give feedback on it in October. Those behind the idea, which is in its earliest stages, says it could be a reality by 2026 if it is backed by the government although it would need approval by multiple government agencies.
Lead architect for the plan, Nick McGough, said: “I think the comfort that anyone from Surrey can take from this is that right from the outset we have been taking extra precautions to minimise the impact and create opportunities to enhance local amenities and use this as a driver to improve things as well as touch the area lightly.
“We would want to speak to local people, government and businesses in terms of how this can benefit them and the country as a whole.”
About 20% of the 140km line would be tunnels with the longest of the three underground sections running from just south of the M25 at Downside, west of Leatherhead, to Holmwood. It would then emerge overground to run through to Charlwood before going back underground to enter Gatwick.
Based on the current costs of HS2, the HS4Air line is estimated to cost £10bn in private investment due to the extensive tunneling.
As well as cutting journey times between Heathrow and Gatwick, the line would bring Gatwick within travelling distance of cities in the north and west of the country, as it would link with HS1 and HS2. This would bring a potential surge of extra passengers to Gatwick and could strengthen the case for expansion.
A spokesman for Spelthorne Borough Council (SBC) said new rail services in the area would have to have no adverse impact on Staines.
“We support new sustainable transport routes that could serve Artist’s impression of how HS4 airports could look the borough and link Heathrow to Staines and the wider network,” he said.
“However, new rail services would need to prevent any harm to the important nature conservation status of Staines Moor and have no adverse impact on Staines.
“Under current proposals set before the Department of Transport, Spelthorne Borough Council is the promoter of a similar, though Light Rail scheme called SLR (Southern Light Rail). Its first phase is linking Staines to Heathrow.”
The proposed route runs overground along the M25 through the Byfleet, West Byfleet and Wisley area.