BAA has announced that it will launch a community consultation on Heathrow Airtrack once preliminary technical and environmental assessments have been completed. Heathrow Airtrack is a proposal to create a new rail link between Heathrow and the South West rail network to the south and west of the airport. The proposal would see construction of a new rail link between Heathrow and Staines, with rail services to the rest of the rail network via Waterloo, Guildford and Reading.
 
BAA announced last year that it would fund a Transport and Works Act seeking permission to build Heathrow Heathrow Airtrack. In recent weeks, consultants have been appointed to study the options and the environmental impacts of the proposed new rail line. Once these initial assessments are complete BAA will consult widely with local residents and other interested groups to discuss the best way to develop and construct the new rail link. 

There will be two main stages of consultation prior to BAA submitting a Transport and Works Act application. The first stage, likely to be in early 2008, will consider possible options for the Heathrow Airtrack Scheme. After considering responses and conducting further technical work BAA will then launch a second stage of consultation, likely to be in late 2008 or early 2009. This second stage will seek views on the final preferred option for Heathrow Airtrack. BAA will continue to provide updates on progress and consult informally throughout the process.

BAA General Manager Rail, Mike Noakes said:

“We have been working with leading engineering consultants Halcrow to explore the options to enable Heathrow Airtrack to be connected to the existing Railway. We have also commissioned Temple Group to carry out an environmental assessment of the project. Once these initial technical assessments are complete, we will present options to the local community to begin discussions about how Heathrow Airtrack can best be constructed.”

“We are absolutely committed to keeping local residents as informed and involved during the Heathrow Airtrack development process. We have a good record of working with our local communities on projects such as Terminal 5 and Heathrow East and are determined to maintain that record on Heathrow Airtrack”.

Notes to Editors:
• Since 1992, new transport schemes have been authorised under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA). 
• Before a TWA Order can be applied for, detailed preparatory work must take place including appraisal of engineering options and environmental impact assessments.
• BAA announced in November 2006 that it would fund the application for the Airtrack TWA Order.
• For further information call the BAA Heathrow Media Team on 020 8745 7224