§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what constraints exist on the development of(a) new and (b) improved rail links to Heathrow from the West. [49470]
§ Mr. ByersThe overriding constraint for new or improved rail services is the heavy traffic already using the Great Western and South West Trains lines around Heathrow. The Strategic Rail Authority is considering how a package of service changes could assist in serving Heathrow from the West.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made as to the future demand for rail links to and from Heathrow from and through Berkshire; [49469]
(2) what plans exist to create new rail links to Heathrow from the west. [49468]
§ Mr. ByersThe Strategic Rail Authority is actively working with BAA on developing proposals for rail service improvements to Heathrow, including the possibility of new and improved links to the west. The SRA is sponsoring the train service demand forecasting phase of this work, which will include services from Heathrow to the west.