The one billion pound spend on electrification for the UK’s First Great Western railway line between the capital and Swansea city centre may also provide additional benefits for rail travellers from Wales and the west of England who are looking to get to Heathrow airport.

The Department for Transport claims the scheme will offer a direct railway link, in preference to the current bus services into Heathrow airport from Maidenhead, Slough and of course Reading. Local Councils in the Thames Valley region have already justified the requirement for a direct railway link, but unfortunately could not push the scheme any further because the main line diesel trains cannot use the track which runs under the airport itself.

At the moment the Department for Transport is not committing to such a project, however the dossier does say that it is looking for local councils and of course the BAA to consider the access necessities at the airport.

The project for the Great Western railway electrification objective could provide a well deserved incentive the rail industry and for public and domestic airlines. With this said the project could not be realistically achieved until at least 2017, which of course ties in with the £425m re-development of Reading railway station. Although the Department for Transport believes the work will be conducted in 8 hour overnight shifts, railway travellers will no doubt already be bracing themselves for travel for disruptions.

Published by – Arbil Rail, industry leaders in the hire and sales of quality rail equipment, parts and rail services.