"Matt" wrote in message
...
From BBC website

A study into whether improved rail inks to Heathrow Airport would be
viable
have found there to be a strong case for the scheme.
The investigation looked at whether trains could run directly to the new
Terminal Five from Surrey and Berkshire and London.

It found the service would provide significant economic advantages for
businesses and passengers.

Called AirTrack, the new rail link would take passengers straight to the
terminal from Reading, Guildford and Waterloo instead of them having to
wait
for a connecting bus or train.

A predicted five million passengers would use AirTrack, according to the
study,
of which a third would be travelling to and from Heathrow.

It would also encourage people to leave their cars at home.

The study predicts AirTrack would be up and running within 10 years as it
would
use existing track and would only need a short length of new railway
route.


The AirTrack scheme is being promoted by the AirTrack Forum, chaired by
Surrey
County Council.

Other organisations in the group include British Airways, Transport for
London,
the South East England Development Agency, the Highways Authority and
business
groups from Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire.

The study, by Atkins Rail and PriceWaterhouse Cooper, on behalf of the
forum,
will now be submitted to the Strategic Rail Authority and the government.

George Burnett, Airtrack Forum chairman, said: "Congestion on the roads on
the
approach to the airport and the surrounding areas is reaching unacceptable
levels daily.

"AirTrack is the solution to help alleviate these traffic problems and the
outline business case (the study) proves it to be a realistic and
financially
viable business proposition."

Heathrow's Terminal Five was given the go-ahead in 2001 after a four-year
public inquiry.

It will be capable of handling 30 million passengers a year and is due to
open
in 2008.



Wouldn't it also require electrification of the line to Reading?