Western Rail Approach to Heathrow

The Western Rail Approach to Heathrow is a proposed rail link in Berkshire, England, which would create additional connection between Heathrow Airport and the Great Western Main Line. Beginning at Heathrow Terminal 5, the link would link via a tunnel, to a junction east of Langley station, allowing trains to run westwards to Reading and Slough. When completed, the line would improve rail connections to Heathrow from the Thames Valley as well as from south west England and South Wales. It would also reduce congestion at Paddington station by removing the need for Heathrow passengers on this route to travel to central London.

Announcements
The project was announced by the Department for Transport in July 2012. Theresa Villers, the rail minister at the time, included the project in the High Level Output Statement published in 2012. This stated 'The Government wishes to see the new railway link to give the western rail access to Heathrow Airport' but did not commit to the scheme, making it "subject to a satisfactory business case and the agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow aviation industry".

Network Rail originally estimated that the project could be operational by 2020. In January 2017, Network Rail's estimate was 2024. Slough Borough Council has cited 'parliamentary activity' as the reason for the delay but not offering further explanation.

The scheme has been supported by the Airports Commission which included the scheme in the 2014 report of Expansion of Heathrow Airport.

In May 2018, it was reported that Network Rail is intending to apply for the Development Consent Order in 2019, and the construction of the railway will be privately financed.

Route
The currently proposed route is a new 5.5 kilometres railway line that would leave Great Western Main Line between Langley and Iver before entering the new tunnel. The tunnel composed of two smaller tunnels will pass through under Richtings Park and Colnbrook and then join the existing rail lines at Heathrow Terminal 5.

Four access buildings will be built to provide emergency tunnel access with two additionally providing ventilation.

Realignmemnt of the tracks will also be required between Langley and Iver.

Services
It is envisaged that there would be a service of four trains an hour from Heathrow to Slough and Reading. Earlier publicity suggested that there would be two trains per hour to Twyford and Maidenhead.

Heathrow Express have offered to run services to Reading which would stop only at Slough.

Alternative schemes
Other schemes have been proposed to connect Heathrow Airport to the Great Western Main Line. A western link is featured in the Heathrow Airtrack scheme, currently abandoned in 2011.

Another alternative is the Windsor Link Railway, which would provide both western and southern access to Heathrow.