Drivers face being forced to wait at railway level crossings for 40 minutes every hour if a new train link to Heathrow airport is approved.

Concerns are mounting over the proposed £673million Airtrack line linking Terminal 5 with Waterloo, Guildford, Woking and Reading. It would run mainly on existing lines via Clapham Junction, Richmond, Feltham and Staines. Airtrack's promoter, Heathrow owner BAA, admits that four level crossings - in Staines, Wokingham, Egham and Pooley Green near Egham - would be "significantly affected", with barriers shut for a total of 39 minutes each hour. There is concern this will add to major traffic problems across south-west London and Surrey.

BAA admits that four more crossings - including at Mortlake and North Sheen - will see opening times cut by up to 25 per cent. The remaining seven will have opening times reduced by less than 10 per cent.

Read the full article in The Evening Standard.


BAA says that Airtrack "will improve rail services to the airport ... taking cars off the road". Yes, it might take cars that were going to the airport off the road, but these ill-conceived plans would leave thousands more idling at closed level-crossings. Take a deep breath, west London. Or, on second thoughts, better not.

This is just more evidence that Heathrow is in the wrong place and that BAA doesn't give a damn how it affects the lives of its neighbours.