On Jul 21, 6:43 pm, "Paul Scott" wrote:

... from Mahwinney report. Available on DfT website.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/hi...whinneyreport/

"I recommend that serious consideration be given to making Old Oak Common
the initial London terminal for the high speed line - and that in the
early
stages it be designated London-Old Oak Common (just as Euston would have
been designated London-Euston) - and that effective use be made of the £16
billion Crossrail project and other rail and tube connections to provide
access to passengers` final destinations including Heathrow. "

"I have concluded and recommend that, in the early stages of a high speed
rail network, there is no compelling case for a direct high speed rail
link
to Heathrow, and that a London-Old Oak Common interchange could provide an
appropriate, good quality terminus and connection point to the airport.
(paragraph 46)"

etc etc.

As has been discussed a lot already recently, some sort of comprehensive hub
station at Old Oak Common could provide for a high-quality interchange
giving access to Heathrow (all 4/5/ whatever terminals of it).

I note however the notion he seems to be putting forward that OOC could
itself be the London terminus of the HS2 line. I suppose that could spare
the significant costs of adapting/ rebuilding Euston, plus the costs of
bringing the line into Euston, but despite Crossrail it'd mean access wasn't
so easy.


Now this study was kicked off by Adonis, although the poisoned chalice was
handed to a Conservative. So will it be agreed by Hammond and his team?

They have been very trenchant in saying that it must go via Heathrow,
haven't they.

But given the financial constraints, it's hard not to consider the whole
thing as something of a chimera. But perhaps it might be unwise to
completely dismiss it all, as decisions taken now or in the imminent future
might have their repercussions.