Heathrow Express is targeting the new Western Rail Access line to extend its fast-shuttle, rail-to-air services to Reading.
Last week Network Rail announced plans to construct a direct line from Swansea to Heathrow that will split from the Great Western Mainline at Langley, east of Slough and travel directly to Terminal 5.
Currently passengers wanting to access Heathrow from Reading have to travel to Paddington and then change or use the RailAir coach service from Reading Station.
The services are expected to be run by the Great Western main line operator, First Group. However, The Times claims Heathrow management will ask the Department for Transport (DFT) whether Heathrow Express can take over the running of express shuttle trains on the new line.
In its submission to the DFT, Heathrow are expected to cite recent figures showing Heathrow Express has the best passenger satisfaction ratings in the industry.
Keith Greenfield, Heathrow Express’s managing director, told The Times that western rail access is the “next logical step” for the millions of people who pass through Heathrow each year and is also a “crucial strand” in the plan to secure the future of Heathrow Express.
“Past success does not guarantee future success,” said Greenfield. “If we want to continue to compete and grow in future, we must work smarter, continually refining our reliability and customer service and proving we are the right operator to run on western access into Heathrow.”
The creation of the ‘Heathrow Spur’ would reduce the current 55-minute Reading to Heathrow route to under half an hour. A 40-minute trip from Slough would be cut by three quarters.
Heathrow Express services are expected to come under pressure from the opening of the £15 billion Crossrail project, which will link London to the south east. This is due to open in December 2019.