Slough MP Tan Dhesi calls to resurrect Western Rail Link to Heathrow project

Slough MP Tan Dhesi is leading calls to resurrect the long-awaited Western Rail Link to Heathrow project.

Network Rail’s plans for a 6.5km rail link, connecting the Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Airport, have stalled since the coronavirus pandemic.

The proposed rail connection was meant to leave the Main Line between Langley and Iver before linking with Heathrow Terminal 5 via a new 5km tunnel.

This would provide a quicker option for passengers travelling to Heathrow from the South West, South Wales and West Midlands.

The current options for these passengers are either to travel into London Paddington to catch a Heathrow Express train or change at Hayes and Harlington to pick up an Elizabeth line service to the airport.

Slough’s Labour MP told the Express: “This is the number one infrastructure priority for the region because it would have a transformational effect for businesses, for work and decongesting our roads.

“When you compare it to things like HS2 or Northern Powerhouse Rail it’s dwarfed because it’s less than one and a half billion.

“But for our area, not just Slough but the Thames Valley, this would mean 20 per cent of the UK’s population would be within one interchange of our country’s main airport.”

Credit: Network Rail

The estimated cost of the project is £1.3billion and Mr Dhesi said significant funding from the private sector will be required to get the scheme up and running.

He added: “The Government are saying we want the private sector to raise hundreds of millions of pounds and then we will commit to it.

“We’ve got to get that interest – whether that’s from businesses on the SEGRO trading estate, in Reading or perhaps even a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

“A lot of the Sovereign Wealth Funds from around the globe invest in certain infrastructure projects if they can get a return as well.

“There’s lots of different ways they can gain benefit but they’ve got to feel they can get that return.”

Network Rail’s plans for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow project were originally expected to be submitted to the Department for Transport in 2020.

But progress stalled upon the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic which led to a huge decline in passenger numbers and an impasse over Heathrow’s third runway plans.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “The Western Rail Link to Heathrow project is not currently active. For administrative reasons it is marked as ‘closed’.

"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.” 

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Increasing use of public transport will help reduce emissions and congestion on local roads. We continue to explore how we can support new projects, including Western Rail, to reduce the number of cars driving to Heathrow.”