This week, MPs across the political spectrum met in Parliament and again voiced their support for the key rail link to Heathrow Airport. Tan Dhesi MP, who chaired the meeting, expressed his support for the project, which will ensure that residents of Slough can be better connected to Britain's busiest airport by rail.
The meeting was constituted as an Annual General Meeting, bringing together MPs to reconstitute the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow and to discuss the many benefits of this integral rail project.
Backed by Government in 2012, the line, which would leave the main line between Langley and Iver, would stretch four miles to connect to London Heathrow Airport, speeding up journeys from the Thames Valley region and removing the need for passengers to travel into London Paddington first.
The proposals would reduce rail journey times by delivering a frequent service in each direction, ease congestion on some of the UK's busiest roads, reduce passenger congestion and generate economic growth.
Network Rail's proposals can be read here.
The following Members of Parliament attended the meeting and took up the following posts in the All-Party Parliamentary Group:
Co-Chairs:
- Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (Labour, Slough)
- Office of Laura Farris MP (Conservative, Newbury)
Treasurer:
- Seema Malhotra MP (Labour and Co-op, Feltham and Heston)
Secretary:
- James Sunderland MP (Conservative, Bracknell)
Vice-Chairs:
- Gerald Jones MP (Labour, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
- Christina Rees MP (Independent, Neath)
- James Gray MP (Conservative, North Wiltshire)
- Dame Nia Griffith MP (Labour, Llanelli)
- Matt Rodda MP (Labour, Reading East)
- Office of Sheryll Murray (Conservative, South East Cornwall)
Co-chair Tan Dhesi MP said that it was: “Wonderful to see so much cross-party support in Parliament for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow. As MPs representing constituencies across the UK, we know the huge benefits our constituents could experience once this vital link is built.
“Greatly improving connectivity, bringing in countless economic and environmental benefits, I look forward to progress on delivering this officially recognised ‘nationally significant infrastructure project'.
“For the good people of Slough, the Thames Valley region and our country as a whole, the Western Rail Link to Heathrow would make travel to and from the busiest airport in the UK greatly more convenient, cutting traffic and congestion and stimulating our local economy.
“It would also ensure that 20% of our country's population will be within one interchange of its busiest port Heathrow.”
I also would back the idea of having a Heathrow Airport Western link to be built so that you get to Heathrow Airport much easier and quicker from the West of England and Reading. Rather than changing trains at Hayes & Harlington and using the Elizabeth Line train from Reading. Or going all the way to London Paddington then using Heathrow Express train to get to Heathrow Airport.
Which adds more of a longer journey coming from the west especially when there is massive delays affecting rail services. What about the Southern link from Staines to Heathrow Airport with a direct rail link from London Waterloo. Maybe that too should also happen.