Heathrow rail link project could be 'reopened'

The project envisioned a 4 mile (6.5km) rail link from Reading and Slough reaching Heathrow via a tunnel

Network Rail has said plans for a rail link between the Great Western mainline and Heathrow Airport could still move forward if funding is found in the future.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service recently reported that the project had been put on hold.

It began in 2012 and involved proposals for a 4 mile (6.5km) rail link to allow train services from Reading and Slough in Berkshire to reach Heathrow using a tunnel.

The £900m scheme would allow people living to the west of Heathrow to travel direct to the airport, instead of having to go into London.

The line (light blue) would be added to the Great Western mainline between Langley railway station to Heathrow

A Network Rail spokesperson said the project was marked as closed "for administrative reasons".

"However it could be reopened again and become active if a satisfactory business case and funding agreement, including an appropriate contribution from the Heathrow aviation industry, is confirmed and progress is resumed towards submitting a development consent order application," they added.

Labour MP for Slough, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, held a debate in parliament on the western rail link in April and established the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow, to make sure it "remains on the government's agenda".

He said the project had been "beset by delays and funding challenges" but still had "wide cross-party and local support".