Heathrow - Additional Runway

People want London TF, as near as possible. How the extra traffic will be organised is another matter!

But how far from London is it really?  Swindon is now regarded as a dormitary town to London and what is the comparable journey time compared to that of Gatwick?

I know what you mean,- but just think of the detrimental effect to the Heathrow envireons, or Gatwick for that matter.  We need an extra runway I think everyone accepts that, but Lynham is there and is not being used!

TF

Hmmm what a surprise . The infrastructure struggles now! Still work won't start for years -public I inquiry starts next year so I understand so further delay.

In my humble opinion it'll miss the boat. Capacity is needed now and very soon. Well be lucky if this is ready before 2025 whoever pays. Plus they'll only fund the runway and buildings not infrastructure. so more bought for the people who it effects most

I expect this thread will be classed as political and  closed.

I suppose the infrastructure is already there at Heathrow to get people into London via the tube link. Swindon is too far out, actually the thought of planes coming over the west country to Swindon would be a no no for me! 

Brue I wonder when you last used the tube? Crossrail is coming but will probably reach or exceed capacity before or very soon after completion! I used to commute to Westminster 30 years ago heavy use of train and tube then. Had the misfortune to be in westminster for 9.15 am five years ago and a train much earlier than I would have used was standing room only at 0630 for the 35 minute journey. The southeast is rammed full but still they are cramming housing in.

I hate the tube! But I only mentioned it because of the Heathrow rail link. I've just had a thought, since it's the west runway isn't it....maybe we will get more planes over our way! 

If Heathrow needs another runway then i dont se why it cant have one if the land can be made available.It disappoints me that whenever a scheme like this is touted people are queing up to protest about it.These things have to be built somewhere the same as motorways and a high speed rail networks.

v9

I don't think Lyneham would work. There may be capacity on the airfield tself, but the access to the village from Calne, Chippenham or Wootton Bassett is via not very good A roads to start with through a number of small villages. The access to the M4 would have to be through or near to Wootton Bassett itself.  I don't think the North Wiltshire countryside could stand the decimation.

I'm not sure where in the whole debate the alternative of extending one of the current runways got lost - seemed a reasonable alternative to me, but then, what do I know about it?   (Answer - not a lot! )

Moulseley & V9,  I think that you may misunderstand me.  At the end of the day I fully support the concept that London does require additional runway capacity, and if it has to be Heathrow, so beit.   I am just a little concerned about what it will do to the area surrounding Heathrow at the moment.

It will require the leveling of many hundreds of homes, yes they will receive compensation etc, but it will disrupt lives, and add to the existing pollution in that already congested area.

Then I look at many other cities, - Tokyo for example ( You cannot get much more cosmopolitan), and its airport Narita.  Narita was built as the new Tokyo airport about 30 years ago and it is a very long way outside Tokyo's envireons. 

Then I see that great runway at Lynham, unused, and I just wonder?  Moulseley I do accept what you say, but would the cost of improving both rail and road links to Lynham come anywhere close to the enormous cost being projected for the Heathrow extension?

I'm certainly not going to get excited about it either way, I'm just a bit troubled I suppose.

TF

As I understand it Heathrow is used a lot for freight. My simple logic would be to move all freight out of Heathrow, perhaps to somewhere like RAF Lyneham which would free up a lot of extra capacity?

David