Branson plans airport rail link
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Railtrack yesterday confirmed that it has had talks with Richard Branson's Virgin group over plans for a rail service linking the City of London directly with Heathrow Airport.
A pounds 200,000 study by consultants Steer, Davies, Gleave, commissioned by Virgin, suggests that the link, using mostly existing track, could be built for as little as pounds 50m and would provide a 34-minute service between Moorgate in the City and the airport once the Heathrow Express to and from Paddington is completed in 1998. Virgin City Linkwould use existing lines from Moorgate to King's Cross Thameslink and then the North London line, before linking up with the pounds 300m Heathrow Express route.
Virgin hopes its line can be completed to open at the same time as - or shortly after - the Heathrow Express. Mr Branson met the Secretary of State for Transport, Sir George Young, last month to outline his plans for what would be the first rail service under the "open access" rules created by the rail privatisation act.
Virgin is also in talks with the officials of the offices of both the Rail Regulator and the Franchising Director. A spokesman for Virgin said: "We are about halfway through the assessment of whether the project is viable. Everyone is very supportive but no one thought of the plan before. About half the cost of the line would go on infrastructure and then new trains would have to be leased."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments