Southern Access scheme moves forward

A comprehensive overview of the strategic objectives behind the scheme to provide a southern access to Heathrow was published by the Department for Transport (DfT) last week to set out the government’s thinking and desired outcomes for the project.

The document said the scheme had been renamed “to reflect the mode agnostic approach taken through the development stages of the scheme so far and encompass modes other than just heavy rail”.

The project was previously known as SRLtH (Southern Rail Link to Heathrow). The new name is SAtH (Southern Access to Heathrow) but the DfT said it anticipated heavy rail would still be a “vital component”.

However, the document added, “there are other mode options and interventions such as light rail, guided busways and emerging technologies such as maglev and autonomous pods that could be blended with heavy rail to enable the realisation of wider opportunities and benefits”.

The DfT said a new southern access would make reaching Heathrow quicker and easier for millions of travellers across the south of England, with proposed links between Central London, Surrey, Hampshire and the airport.

In addition, more accessible and convenient transport links would greatly reduce road traffic and congestion, enabling greener journeys to and from the airport and between local communities.

(See also High-tech tracking for Heathrow expansion in this issue).

www.gov.uk/government/publications/southern-access-to-heathrow-strategic-objectives

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