Northern rail access to Heathrow (NRATH)

[PTR 444]

We all know expansion of Heathrow is on hold for now, but even so, improved links to the airport are necessary. Enter in my idea for a Northern rail access to Heathrow. This would allow trains from the WCML to access the airport, as well as provide a connections between communities that mainly have to rely on the M25. The section between Watford Junction and Croxley would use a reinstated Croxley rail link (although in this instance, Watford Met would remain open), before crossing the Metropolitan mainline and heading southwards on a new alignment to the GWML. The final bit would reuse the disused Poyle branch before linking up with WRATH and SRATH at Heathrow T5.

With this route (shown in red) and SRATH (shown in yellow) combined, you would essentially have one quarter of an M25 railway equivalent. There may even be the possibility of running trains from Woking to Watford via a reversal at Heathrow or a new chord bypassing the airport (not shown on map) which would help reduce traffic on its most congested section. Finally, I have added a chord to allow trains to run direct between Heathrow terminals 5 and 4 as the latter would probably be a better place to terminate some trains.

Thoughts?

 

[popeter45]

one issue would be that this would plough though a metric S**t-ton of green space so would face massive opposition (same as what killed the HS4Air suggestion)

 

[Bald Rick]

Another issue would be the height of the viaduct over the Colne near Denham. It’s too wet to be at ground level or underground, so that means being on viaduct and that means going over HS2. You’re looking at least 20m+ up!

Another, minor* point is that there is no space for more platforms at T5, so you’d be digging some new ones, which means demolishing part of T5 to do so.

*not minor at all.

 

[HSTEd]

How much would it cost to modify the WCML-Dudding Hill Line connection to allow trains to access Heathrow from the WCML via the GWML?

 

[Bald Rick]

How much would it cost to modify the WCML-Dudding Hill Line connection to allow trains to access Heathrow from the WCML via the GWML?

For access - it just needs electrification of about a mile and a quarter of track.

Finding paths on the GWMLreliefs and into Heathrow is another matter...

 

[PTR 444]

Another issue would be the height of the viaduct over the Colne near Denham. It’s too wet to be at ground level or underground, so that means being on viaduct and that means going over HS2. You’re looking at least 20m+ up!

Another, minor* point is that there is no space for more platforms at T5, so you’d be digging some new ones, which means demolishing part of T5 to do so.

*not minor at all.

That’s why I suggested building a new chord to allow some trains to run to T4.

 

[Bald Rick]

That’s why I suggested building a new chord to allow some trains to run to T4.

Building junction caverns directly under Runway 27L and the aprons for T5 would be, err, interesting. Leaving aside that the service to T4 and T5 would have to be suspended for years to do it.

 

[HSTEd]

Heathrow is just a stupid place for an airport.

 

[Bald Rick]

Heathrow is just a stupid place for an airport.

Paddington is a stupid place for a station, but we are where we are.

 

[HSTEd]

Paddington is a stupid place for a station, but we are where we are.

Perhaps demolishing Somers Town and building New Somers Town in Paddington is the right move in the long run......