Airtrack-Lite to Heathrow

A proposal has been put forward that would see a half-hourly direct train service between Waterloo and Heathrow Airport perhaps using the redundant Eurostar platforms.  The scheme is being promoted by Wandsworth Council and is based on BAA's Airtrack project.  It would provide four trains an hour from Waterloo to Terminal 5 with stops at Clapham Junction and Putney.  It avoids routing extra trains through level crossings in Mortlake and Egham.  This was a key problem with the original scheme which was scrapped by BAA in April.

The new plan – called Airtrack-Lite – routes two trains an hour from Waterloo via the Hounslow loop which serves Brentford, Syon Lane, Isleworth and Kew Bridge stations.  The two existing services on the Waterloo – Windsor line would split at Staines to provide a further direct link to Terminal 5.

Two services an hour would also come up from Weybridge to Heathrow – again without adding extra frequencies over level crossings at Egham.  The new scheme would require a new station at Staines and the implementation of the track to Terminal 5 which has been provided for. 

The Council is now discussing the case for Airtrack-Lite with the Department for Transport as part of the Wandsworth Travel Choices campaign. www.wandsworth.gov.uk

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