Proposal
In the late 1980s Arup researched an innovative alternative for the alignment of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The route proposed by the company focused on using the link as a catalyst for regeneration - it was adopted by Government in 1991. It came into being in November 2007, when the first Eurostar arrived via High Speed 1, at St Pancras railway station.
Arup’s proposal would create a high-speed rail station at the airport alongside a future airport terminal, providing it with a direct rail link to continental Europe via Eurostar International services. The new station would have also connect regional rail services on the Great Western Main Line to Heathrow, making the airport more accessible to the West, South West, Wales and the Midlands and provided a direct train service between the Thames Gateway and the Thames Valley.
The new rail link to Heathrow was to offer passengers the choice between different modes of transport. Currently, just 22% of passengers arrive at Heathrow by rail, including the London Underground, while 65% arrive by car.
Read more about this topic: Heathrow Hub Railway Station