Dave Arquati wrote:
Richard J. wrote:

The official proposal is for a third runway, not a sixth terminal,
so no new railway construction is currently envisaged. However,
some reports have said the new runway would require its own
terminal, otherwise the planned increase in flights could not be
achieved. I haven't seen any discussion of the surface transport
implications of a sixth terminal.

I was under the impression that at least some "satellite terminals"
would be required (if not a full sixth terminal), as there is such a
distance between the current terminals and the proposed runway.

That is indeed BAA's view, but was not part of the original government
proposal. The relevant passage in the White Paper is this:

"11.65 The airport operator argued in its consultation response that
the full potential of a third runway could not be realised without a
sixth terminal to the north of the A4. They suggested four possible
options for new facilities. In all cases more land would be needed than
allowed for in the consultation option, which assumed that terminal
capacity would be provided within the airport boundary. In principle, we
recognise the force of these arguments and suggest that the operator
should carry out further work on proposals for terminal capacity and an
appraisal of the impacts, on the basis of which a further consultation
would be required."

If a new terminal were required, presumably a HEx/Crossrail station
could be constructed around the existing running tunnels for the
Heathrow rail branch, as that would probably pass underneath or nearby
any new terminal construction.

Depends where BAA want to build T6. The HEx tunnels run to the east of
the proposed third runway.

The surface transport implications associated with a new terminal are
much the same as for the new runway; the same increase in traffic will
need to be accommodated in any case.

Yes, but it makes a big difference to the railway/tube situation if a
new terminal is built 2 - 3 km from the existing terminals and stations.

--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address