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Press release 24th October 2016

 

Airport capacity solutions must include rail.


Rail campaigners are calling on the government to bring some joined-up thinking to the issue of airport capacity. "Airports cannot work without integrated transport links. Our economy needs an effective, efficient and integrated transport system to sustain the economic development of the UK, and we'll continue to depend on world trade." said Chris Page, chairman of campaign group Railfuture "So if the government wants to increase airport capacity there are two key issues it needs to think about: how to spread the economic benefits across the UK and how to meet our environmental obligations. That's why we need improved rail links to provide access from across the UK to our airports for both passengers and staff, and increase rail's modal share of travel. Only rail can save us from gridlock."

"At Heathrow, the Western and Southern rail access links are essential, as is a connection with HS2 via Crossrail. Crossrail must serve the main Heathrow terminals. Gatwick already has good regional rail connections with Thameslink, but it needs a far more resilient railway, and there are a number of options that can be developed there. In the shorter term there's a real need for a faster and more reliable high-capacity rail link to Stansted, which already has spare capacity and the option of expanding in the future."


Notes to editors:

Railfuture is the UK's leading independent organisation campaigning for better rail services for both passengers and freight.

Railfuture's website can be found at: www.railfuture.org.uk

Follow Railfuture on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Railfuture

For further information and comment please contact:

Chris Page, Railfuture chairman
Tel: 07928 299288
chris.page at railfuture.org.uk

Bruce Williamson, media spokesman
Tel: 0117 927 2954 Mobile: 07759 557389
media at railfuture.org.uk