HEATHROW T5 has been topped out by the minister for transport Alistair Darling, in a well-attended ceremony in the new terminal building last week. BAA says it will become officially operational on Sunday 30 March 2008 at 0400. Capable of handling 30m passengers, construction on the 4.2bn project started in September 2002. Both the main building known as T5A and its satellite (T5B), are now glass clad and getting ready for fitting out. The two are connected by an underground Bombardier people mover, which can take you from the international side (T5B), to the short haul building (T5A), in 50 seconds. To put the whole thing in perspective,T5 covers the area of Hyde Park and will have no less than 120 retail outlets, a 12,000 space multi-storey car park and a 600-guestroom hotel (Sofitel). There is also a ” mile long airside road tunnel, now complete, which links the complex to T3 and will be used for all airside operations.
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