§ Baroness Flatherasked Her Majesty's Government:
How Thameslink 2000 will enhance access to airports.
§ Viscount GoschenMy right honourable friend's statement on 27th February (Official Report, col. 723) 20WA indicated that Thameslink 2000 would enhance access to Stansted and Gatwick airports. Thameslink 2000 is a project to enhance existing infrastructure and expand the current Thameslink network. The benefits include a significant increase in capacity, a substantial reduction in journey times, the provision of direct access to the City of London from a greater number of destinations north and south of London, an interchange with Channel Tunnel Rail Link services and with the services of seven train operators and eight London Underground lines (including the Jubilee Line Extension).
Gatwick Airport and Luton Airport are both on the Thameslink route and thus are well placed to benefit from the increased opportunities Thameslink 2000 provides. However, access to Stansted Airport will not, as the statement suggested, be enhanced by the project. Direct links to Stansted, and to Heathrow, would require additional infrastructure, electrification and junction changes. These are not part of the current Thameslink 2000 plans. It would be a matter for Railtrack, its customers and the Franchising Director to examine the case for such enhancement and to take worthwhile proposals forward.