Up in the air? How are we going to get to and from an expanded Heathrow?

A recent visit to Terminal 5 at Heathrow involved going on the X442 bus from Staines rail station. Some of the 280-odd passengers a day for that service were also on board. It’s a useful way of reaching T5 from the South. So, while Heathrow is served by public transport from some directions for many car is the choice.

When Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander recently set out next steps on potential Heathrow expansion she said:

“Extra staff and passengers must be able to get to and from the airport without turning the M4 and M25 into Europe’s largest car park.”

This sets an interesting test. By the time any new construction starts, nearly half of all passengers will reach the airport by various forms of public transport. A quarter will use taxis, and the rest will either travel to car parks in their own cars or be dropped off. Staff disproportionately use their own cars, but the airport is slowly changing this. More planes will also mean more cargo and more trucks.

The scale of the increase in passenger numbers argues that new, high capacity, high frequency and resilient choices will need to be put in. Boosting buses and coach services could shift more people, but only new rail capacity would provide a real step change. The Heathrow Southern Rail and Western Rail Approach schemes are the most well-developed and widely supported schemes.

The Heathrow Area Transport Forum (‘HATF’ Heathrow Area Transport Forum - Heathrow Area Transport Forum), which I chair, is looking at all this. From the outside it is difficult to see when and where crucial decisions are being made. It is difficult to gauge who to influence and when. Part of our job is to try and unpack some of these so stakeholders and residents can make their voices heard. We are working closely with the umbrella Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport CISHA and associated forums for noise, air quality, accessibility and local community issues.

Decisions are already being taken. The initial promoters of various expansion schemes have been whittled down to two: Heathrow Airport and the Arora Group. One of these schemes could be chosen by the end of November. One of the criteria for deciding which proposal to accept is how transport to the airport is planned, so choices are already being made.

There are many parties involved, all of whom have an influence on plans: among others Transport for London, the airport, the airlines, planning authorities and the Civil Aviation Authority (Heathrow is the only airport where the price charged to airlines for landing is capped). So, when and where do you speak up? This project is huge and will have a lasting impact on the immediate area and well beyond.

HATF is starting to make sense of this, in its statutory advisory role, by holding an event on November 19th from 1200 to 1600 at Hounslow Council’s offices. Speakers include Nigel Milton, Heathrow’s chief communications and sustainability officer, Sophie Chapman, Heathrow’s surface access director, Christina Calderato, director of transport strategy and policy at TfL plus senior staff from CAA and the Department for Transport. We are aiming to help understand how this is going to develop and what are stakeholders’ priorities for improving surface access.

The event is by invitation only. However, we have a few spaces left. If you would like to come contact: Simran.kullar@heathrow.com