DfT looks at funding of Heathrow South Rail line

[snowman]

Link to DfT Press release

Link 2

Department of Transport is looking at a Heathrow rail link to the South

Variations have been floated for many years, by extending the line West from T5 (using 2 extra platforms already built in basement of T5) to join the disused Staines West branch, or an anti clockwise loop via T4 (the step plate junctions were built for this), or a line via Bedfont joining between Feltham and Ashford

[snoggle]

Mar 20, 2018 11:57:03 GMT snowman said:

Link to DfT Press release

Link 2

Department of Transport is looking at a Heathrow rail link to the South

Variations have been floated for many years, by extending the line West from T5 (using 2 extra platforms already built in basement of T5) to join the disused Staines West branch, or an anti clockwise loop via T4 (the step plate junctions were built for this), or a line via Bedfont joining between Feltham and Ashford

What an utter utter joke from the Grayling Department of Mad Ideas. 2 months to come up with "credible" schemes that are "viable without government support". What ludicrous rubbish. No railway in the country is wholly financially self sustaining including payment of historic debt, construction costs, operating costs and turning a viable profit for investors. Given the government can borrow at lower rates than anyone else it makes no sense to pursue a policy of private funding without some level of government support. The implication is that fares would have to astronomically high for a very long period to even stand a small chance of any private investment paying off at levels which private sector lenders / investors would be happy with.