§ 36. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Transport what consideration he has given to the proposal to establish a direct express rail link from the British Overseas Airways Corporation terminal at Victoria to London Airport; and how this project compares in cost and time with other possible services.
§ Mr. MarplesI have considered this proposal in assessing the communications between central London and the airport. Very substantial improvements in communication by road have been made and more are projected. When they are completed there will be excellent road access to the airport.
Any decision about a rail link would have to take into account the considerations mentioned by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement on 10th March about the position of the British Transport Commission.
Rail links of the monorail type have also been suggested from time to time, but so far definite proposals have not been put to me.
As regards the second part of the Question, the cost of a rail link and road improvements are not comparable, because roads are multi-purpose while a rail link would serve only the airport. The journey time in each case would not be very different when the road improvements are completed.