Airtrack Proposal

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What Happens Next?We have completed the outlinedesign of the scheme and inthe near future we will besubmitting an application tothe Secretary of State forTransport for an Order underthe Transport and Works Act1992 (TWA).This application will seek toauthorise the works requiredand the acquisition of any landthat is needed either temporarilyor permanently.Project documents relating to theTWA application will be madeavailable at local libraries andCouncil offices. Details of theselocations will be placed in localnewspaper advertisements.Once the TWA application hasbeen submitted, objections,representations and letters ofsupport must be lodged within56 days. Once the Secretary ofState has had an opportunityto consider the application,a decision will be made onwhether a Public Inquiry shouldbe held into the proposals. BAAanticipates a Public Inquiry couldbe held at the beginning of 2010.All being well, TWA powers couldbe granted towards the endof 2010.If you would like to talk tosomeone about the proposedscheme you can call theHeathrow Airtrack Team on020 7529 4906. Or you can email:heathrowairtrack@cjassociates.co.ukAll those who have an interest in,or rights over land which may beaffected by the scheme, will benotified that the application hasbeen made under guidelines laiddown for TWA applications.TimelineSummer 2009Submit Transport andWorks Act Order ApplicationEarly 2010Potential Public InquiryLate 2010TWA powers grantedEarly 2011Possible start of worksLate 2014Heathrow Airtrackservices operating10 11
Comments on AirTrack proposals:-(a) Except for the short Heathrow Express extension to Staines, the other 3 Airtrack routes are roughlysimilar in length(b) But while the T5 - Waterloo service has 5 planned stops at Staines, Feltham, Twickenham, Richmond,Clapham Junction(c) the T5 - Reading service has only 2 at Bracknell and Wokingham(d) and the T5 - Guildford service has only 2 at Chertsey and Woking.1. There is a degree of unfairness here as the T5 - Reading trains will run fast with no stops betweenHeathrow and Bracknell; while the T5 - Guildford trains will run fast with no stops between Heathrow andChertsey. As proposed Airtrack trains will not stop at Egham, Virginia Water, Sunningdale or Ascot .2. In their 2 nd Consultation report BAA states:-“As the Heathrow Airtrack services are additional trains to those currently being operated bySouth West Trains, they provide additional capacity, particularly between Staines and LondonWaterloo.Passengers will be able to use these new services to travel between existing stations, withoutpayment of any supplement. Passengers travelling on all Heathrow Airtrack services goingbeyond Staines to Heathrow Airport will be charged a small supplement.Services will probably run between 5.00 am and midnight”.3. Also in their 2 nd Report BAA abandoned their initial proposal for a new station at Staines High Street.This means that an additional stop can be made at Egham, Virginia Water, Sunningdale or Ascot withoutlengthening the original Airtrack run times.4. Because of the closeness of the station platforms to the barrier level crossings, and the extended barrierdowntime needed in this situation, Egham and Sunningdale are unsuitable stops for Airtrack trains.5. However it raises the possibility of an Ascot stop (2 AirTrack tph) on the T5 – Reading line, and aVirginia Water stop (2 Airtrack tph eventually) on the T5 - Guildford line.6. An Ascot AirTrack stop would have some advantages and disadvantages :-A. It is in the RBWMB. existing road congestion between Ascot & Bracknell could eliminate AirTrack rail advantageC. would reduce local car and taxi journeys to HeathrowD. Ascot station would need forecourt improvements (Taxi, bus, car park, drop off separation).7. Bear in mind that Airtrack is a Heathrow surface access proposal designed to facilitate R3 :-Wider economic impacts of AirTrack SEEDA Final Report 21.12.075.1 (p43) AirTrack could....... It also has the potential, in combination with other policy measures, tohelp meet the Government’s criteria for a third runway at Heathrow....8. Finally, would BAA surrender fast Airtrack routes to T5, even if a GWR/M25/Heathrow hub proposalwent ahead ? BAA appear to be reluctant to give up the Heathrow Express from Paddington !The old Staines / West Drayton line may provide a useful southerly link to the hub if it were to proceed, butnot if it was monopolised by BAA.Peter Hooper. 12.3.09
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