Cross Party Push To Link The West To Heathrow
The inaugural meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow (APPG for WRLtH) which will support the case for and delivery of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow, took place this week, with Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster being elected Vice-Chair.
WRLtH would see the creation of a new rail connection from Reading, via Slough, to London Heathrow, giving 20 per cent of the UK population access to Heathrow via one interchange. Journey times in the future could be as short as 26 minutes from Reading and 6 minutes from Slough, making it much easier for travellers from South Devon to access the UK’s main hub airport.
At the meeting Tan Dhesi and Richard Benyon were elected as Co-Chairs, Geraint Davies as Secretary and Luke Pollard as Treasurer, Kevin Foster and Christina Rees as Vice-Chairs.
Kevin said: “This project would not only benefit those living near the airport, but provide a more direct rail link for passengers from across the South West. The scheme could generate an estimated £800m of additional economic activity and 42,000 new jobs, whilst making it easier for investors and travellers to reach our bay from Heathrow without having to travel via London Paddington or a coach to Reading.”
“I am pleased to have been elected as Vice-Chair of this group and look forward to working with colleagues across the political divide to see this vital project delivered.”
ENDS