The Goverment proposes a high-speed Heathrow/Gatwick rail link

[whole diary]

[woody]

Channel 4 news reports today that a high-speed railway connection linking Heathrow and Gatwick airports is being considered by ministers as an option to expand London's air capacity.
http://www.channel4.com/news/heathrow-gatwick-rail-link-would-create-aircraft-hub

[Chris from Nailsea]

... except that it won't increase runway capacity at all, according to the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report:

Heathrow and Gatwick airports: Ministers mull rail link

New ways of connecting airports, such as a high-speed rail link between Heathrow and Gatwick, are to be considered in the coming months as the government reviews its aviation policy.

A 180mph (288km/h) train service between the two locations has been proposed, The Times reported.

And the multibillion-pound idea is to be studied by ministers, the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) has confirmed.

But Heathrow's operator, BAA, said it "provided no extra runway capacity".

The idea also faced "seemingly insurmountable technical, operational, political financial challenges, and would take many years to deliver", the company added.

The scheme, which would create a so-called "virtual hub" running from west London to West Sussex, was welcomed by Gatwick Airport, however.

Anything which provided "short to medium-term alleviation of capacity issues in the South East" should be considered, although the funding and route would need careful consideration, a spokesman said.

The issues of aviation congestion, and links between airports, have been frequently discussed in recent months.

Among the ideas is a ^40bn terminal in the Thames estuary - nicknamed "Boris Island" after London Mayor Boris Johnson - several miles off the Essex and Kent coasts.

There has also been debate about extending fast train services to Heathrow.

Currently Heathrow and Gatwick are linked only by road, or by travelling into London and back out again by rail.

The DfT said ministers wanted a policy "which supports economic growth while addressing the environmental impacts of flying".

Among the considerations were "the importance of a UK^▸ (United Kingdom) hub airport and whether it might be possible to create a 'virtual hub' by improving connectivity between existing airports", a spokesperson said.

"This proposal will form a useful contribution to the debate and will be considered alongside all other responses."

[Brucey]

The only benefit I can see is for people on connections.  But if you have to enter the country to use the new rail service, then the whole connection process would become somewhat inconvenient.

[RailCornwall]

Could easily be operated in either closed or open versions. OBB operate Austrian Closed services through German territory, bypassing the Zell-am-See 'kink' so the principle could be used from Heathrow to Gatwick, a non stopper to temporarily segregated platforms at either end.

Luggage will be a critical element to this link as that will have to be transported in a similar time frame to the passenger.

(fond memories of the Paddington Checkin area and also the aborted before it started, idea of through luggage to Paddington from abroad)

[Btline]

A complete waste of time. Do these minsters think there is an abundance of capacity at Gatwick? If they built a second runway at Gatwick, then I'd say yes.

I personally think a Boris Island airport is the answer, so flights can circle, take off and land over water, and not over our capital. This can be linked to HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel). Then AXE both Heathrow, Southend and Stansted, building a housing estate in their place, ending the South East housing problem.

But I doubt there is any money for any schemes involving aviation.

What's wrong with businessmen using Paris or Amsterdam airports? If they're still coming to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), then surely it doesn't matter?

[dking]

Sounds to me like a political ploy to divert the attention of Home Counties NIMBYs from HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)). There's a lot of high value property between LHR and LGW.
Regarding the 'Boris Island' idea - taking off and landing over sea sounds great until you remember the existence of seabirds.

[woody]

Airlines dismiss plans for 'Heathwick' virtual hub
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airlines-dismiss-plans-for-heathwick-virtual-hub-363181/
Quote :British Airways says that the high-speed rail line would do "absolutely nothing to address the ever more pressing issue of the south east's need to have more airport capacity".