Heathrow rail link project withdrawn

The line would allow people West of Heathrow to travel direct to the airport

Plans for a rail link between Great Western mainline and Heathrow Airport have been put on hold.

The long-anticipated scheme would have allowed people living to the west of Heathrow to travel direct to the airport, instead of having to go into London.

Labour MP for Slough Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi said the project has been "beset by delays and funding challenges" but still has "wide cross-party and local support".

Network Rail, which withdrew its application for the rail link, has been approached for comment.

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

The project, which began in 2012, involved plans for a 4 mile (6.5km) rail link to allow train services from Reading and Slough to reach Heathrow using a tunnel.

Network Rail's plans were put on hold in December 2020, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

An announcement on the government’s planning inspectorate website, a pre-application process was withdrawn in May.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced on 29 July the cancellation and review of government projects and said the Conservative government had made £22 billion of "unfunded pledges".

Cancelled projects included the A27 Arundel bypass and the Stonehenge tunnel, with the new hospital programme affecting Frimley Park and the Royal Berkshire Hospital being put in review.

But there are still hopes that the project could become a reality.

Mr Dhesi, who held a debate in parliament on the western rail link in April, said he had "long been a supporter" of the project.

He has eastablished the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow, to make sure it "remains on the Government's agenda".

Mr Dhesi added: “Since the Conservative government promised to build it over a decade ago, this nationally significant infrastructure project has been beset by delays and funding challenges, yet receives wide cross-party and local support from businesses and residents.

“With a new Labour government, I know it is steadfast in its commitment to economic growth, and enhancing our infrastructure and rail connectivity, alongside tackling the climate crisis.

"I look forward to future discussions on how we can improve all transport services for my Slough constituents."