Written evidence from Slough Borough Council (STA0034)

Executive Summary

• Heathrow currently has rail access in only one direction – towards London – missing the opportunity to connect with 20 million people across the South West, South Wales, West Midlands, South Coast and Thames Valley.  Access to Heathrow is critical to the region as well as the wider UK economy; Western Rail Link to Heathrow will safeguard the economy of the most productive sub-region outside of London, worth nearly £30 billion and supporting close to 1 million employees.
• The need for a western rail link to Heathrow is well acknowledged.  The business, economic and environmental case for the rail link is strong – £1.5 billion of efficiency savings, £800 million of additional economic activity, 42,000 new jobs, modal shift from road to rail, one million fewer road journeys and 5,200 tonnes less CO2 released into the atmosphere.
• The commitment made by Government in 2012 to fund a western rail link to Heathrow needs to be made good with funding and resources set in place to deliver the scheme within the timeline originally set out by Network Rail, without delay.  Lack of clear commitment, timeline and unnecessary delay presents risk to the Thames Valley and UK economies.
• Bus services operating in and around Heathrow must conform to ultra low emissions standards.
• Air quality in and around Heathrow airport, including Slough, is a major concern to public health.  Improving air quality should be a key priority for surface access transport schemes.

Introduction

1. In response to the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry into surface transport at airports, specifically the range and capacity of current strategic connections to airports and how predicted changes in demand for capacity (both passengers and freight) are being planned for, Slough Borough Council (SBC) is campaigning for Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH), Slough Mass Rapid Transport (SMaRT) and, a sustainable transport and transport policy that supports a modal transport shift towards sustainable public transportation.
2. Slough is located within 10 minutes of London’s Heathrow Airport has 3 exits off the M4 motorway which gives easy access to both London and the West Country, and has rail links to Reading and London Paddington the Great Western line.  It is integrated into the heart of the UK transport and communications network, located between the M4, M40 and the M25.
3. The Borough is home to the Slough Trading Estate, the largest privately owned industrial estate in Europe, and has the highest concentration of corporate headquarters in the country (outside London).  Slough is attractive as a business location because of its transport connections but it lacks a rail connection to Heathrow, something that local businesses say is required – Heathrow currently has rail access in only one direction, towards London.
4. Many Slough residents rely on Heathrow for their livelihoods, with more than 7,000 working in airline related industries, and with 5.6% of Heathrow’s directly employed staff drawn from Slough.

Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH)

5. Slough Borough Council on behalf of the Local Enterprise Partnership is seeking to promote and facilitate investment from the public and private sectors; in order to realise the immense benefits possible from the Western Rail Access to Heathrow.  The WRLtH scheme would provide a direct link between the Great Western Mainline and Heathrow Airport, thus enabling London Paddington – Heathrow services to be extended to Reading, calling at Maidenhead and Slough.  Connecting services will also enable access to the West of England, the South West, South Wales, the West Midlands, the South Coast (Dorset and Hampshire) and the greater Thames Valley area, as well as further afield.
6. An assessment of the potential wider impacts of WRLtH services suggests a much greater need for the scheme than pure transport benefits. The improved access to Heathrow and the surrounding economic hubs will strengthen the position of the Thames Valley on the world stage: forecast increase in economic activity could generate up to £800 million in additional economic output and employ up to 42,000 new jobs.
7. These benefits will not be limited to the Thames Valley. With almost 20% of the UK population within one interchange of Heathrow Airport, the WRLtH services will bring knock-on economic and employment benefits to areas in the West of England, South Wales, the South West and the Midlands.
8. Therefore, when making recommendations the Transport Select Committee is requested by Slough Borough Council to consider the following:
9. That WRLtH services would allow continued growth in economic activity along the Thames Valley, contributing £30 billion to the national economic output, where the Thames Valley is recognised internationally as a hub for high-value business activity;
10. Currently there is no direct rail link to Heathrow from the entire West of England and although Heathrow Airport is recognised an international travel hub and has played a key role in the development of the region, the transport network in the area is under severe pressure and there is doubt as to how long the region can maintain international competitiveness due to the levels of connectivity required;
11. The M4 corridor contains some of the most congested sections of highway network in the country, creating high levels of delay and acting as a potential obstacle to business and economic growth.  WRLtH provides a viable sustainable mode of transport with significant socio-economic benefits.  As a result of decongestion on the highway network: over 100 million vehicle-kilometres would be removed from the network, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions and accidents;
12. Demand forecasts confirm the potential for up to 3.3 million additional passenger journeys per year on the rail network, with particularly high levels of demand projected on longer-distance journeys from Reading, Bristol, Oxford and Exeter;
13. Conventional economic appraisal suggests benefits in excess of £1 billion over a 60-year appraisal period, the majority of which will accrue to new and existing rail passengers as a result of substantial journey time savings (Journey times from Reading will be halved; from Maidenhead and Slough they would reduce by up to 72%). The scheme will deliver high value for money as a result with a benefit-cost ratio of 3.80;
14. Forecast of the financial viability of the scheme suggest that it will provide a profitable business for the rail franchisee, generating annual revenues of up to £70 million per annum, and returning an overall profit on total investment within nine years of opening.

Recommendations for action

15. A major concern of key stakeholders in WRLtH is timing.  SBC has worked hard to raise awareness of the proposals, establishing a web presence and speaking both in the UK and abroad about the benefits and opportunities arising from the project.  Timely delivery of the project is important, a timely commitment to proceed is critical if the region is to retain existing business, let alone attract new foreign investment.

• Action.  The published Network Rail timeline indicates the link could be operational late 2021 / early 2022 – existing delays could extend this operational date by 12 to 18 months, however we believe there are opportunities to reduce this timescale.  Supporting an earlier delivery date, or at very least committing to a timely announcement of a definitive live running date would bring economic benefits in itself, giving businesses the confidence to invest in the UK for the first time, or renew their existing commitment to the region.

16. It is important to complete Governance of Rail Infrastructure Projects (GRIP) stages 3 to 5 in as short a time as possible.  GRIP 5 would provide a detailed design, allowing progression to installation and commissioning in GRIP 6.  Initial estimates suggested that completion of GRIP 3, 4 and 5 could be achieved by the end 2016, with appropriate resource commitments.  Funding to complete GRIP 2 and move on to GRIP 3 has been secured by Network Rail; commitment now to fully fund GRIP stages 3, 4 and 5 would allow the project to progress without further introducing unnecessary delays in the development process.

• Action.  Agree upfront funding for GRIP stages 3, 4 and 5 and beyond to avoid introducing delay into the system by waiting for funding confirmation following each GRIP stage.  Funding would only be drawn down if the project met the GRIP criteria at each stage, but this would help to eliminate delay, and risk to the economy of the Thames Valley and UK.

17. Time is critical, and progress is needed now.  A financial and political commitment to progress WRLtH seamlessly through the GRIP stages would ensure the project can be delivered as quickly as possible, and secure the maximum benefit, while an early announcement in support of WRLtH (subject to satisfaction of GRIP criteria) would give local businesses the confidence to reinvest in the UK, and ensure the region remains attractive to new foreign investment.

Slough Mass Rapid Transport (SMaRT)

18. Slough Borough Council has started work on implementing and developing a Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) service to Heathrow.  A priority bus service that serves fewer strategic stops, with the purpose of connecting areas of key economic and transport activity in Slough to Heathrow Airport.
19. When work is complete the planned service will enable the Slough Trading Estate to connect to Slough Station and onwards to Heathrow.  The trading estate hosts over 500 international and local businesses and consists of 486 acres and 7.7 m sq ft of industrial and office accommodation.  Slough Station and Slough Bus Station are both located in the centre of Slough, which is the main commercial and retail hub in the area. Slough station will also benefit from the launch of Crossrail as well as existing Great Western Railway services.  With the extension of the service to Heathrow alongside the potential for WRLtH the opportunity for enabling greater surface connectivity via sustainable road and rail transport options is vast.
20. Therefore, when making recommendations the Transport Select Committee is requested by Slough Borough Council to consider the following:
21. The role that SMaRT and other Mass Rapid Transport services can play in easing congestion on key surface routes into airports;
22. The potential for decarbonising the passenger transport network by providing support for ultra low emission services on priority routes to airports.  The associated opportunity that such MRTs present as a key first move and innovator.  This has the potential to pave the way and encourage other local or regional services to follow;
23. Consideration for regulating all bus services that operate to airports based on emissions or ultra low capability.  Further consideration to the extent and reach of the regulation and whether it should go beyond services and consider the fleet composition of relevant bus operators
24. The balance of journey time, punctuality and reliability and the maximisation of bus capacity with consideration of the passenger experience from overcrowding.  Further consideration of the capacity of bus passenger transport services and associated implications on quality of life, health and experience;
25. Consideration of the attractiveness of bus services to airports for corporate clients and passengers, i.e. consideration for mobile desk space or additional wifi services.  Similarly the scope for on-board real time passenger information for domestic and international flight connectivity.

Recommendations for action

26. Consideration needs to be given to regulating all bus services that operate to airports based on emissions or ultra low capability.  Further consideration to the extent and reach of the regulation and whether it should go beyond services and consider the fleet composition of relevant bus operators.

• Action.  Recommend that all bus services operating in and around Heathrow conform to ultra low emissions standards.

Sustainable Transport and Travel

27. Over recent years Slough Borough Council have taken an increasingly holistic perspective on transport and travel, both in terms of existing road and surface infrastructure, as well as passenger transport with a growing focus on encouraging and facilitating the reduction of single occupancy car use and achieving modal shift towards sustainable means of travel.
28. Heathrow as the UK’s main hub airport is a vital facilitator for local and national economic growth, serving circa 70 million passengers during 2014 with 76,000 people working at the airport.  In consideration of the role that transport plays in supporting economic activity, social inclusion and sustainability, as well as personal wellbeing and quality of life.  Attention must be given to the mix and availability of different modes of transport both in terms of passengers who access the airport for travel, but also for people who travel to the airport for work or business.
29. Therefore, when making recommendations the Transport Select Committee is requested by Slough Borough Council to consider the following interdisciplinary issues:
30. In accepting that road transport and car use remains a part of the travel choice made by individuals; consideration given to ways at encouraging and supporting the uptake of low emission journeys and reducing single occupancy car use;
31. Consideration of regulating or incentivising taxi and/or private hire vehicles from a low emission perspective;
32. Exploring the role of zero emission car clubs, bay to bay and point to point, in and around Heathrow, with consideration to zoning (so hire can not be ended within the an airport zone);
33. Consideration to the associated sustainable transport infrastructure within Heathrow boundaries, but also inter-connectivity between neighbouring hubs, i.e. Slough , Maidenhead and Reading via cycle, with dedicated cycle routes, lanes and provision for cross boundary cycle hire;
34. The levels of supplementary support that major infrastructure projects (e.g. Crossrail, HS2, Smart Motorways, Third Runway) in and around airports deliver and/or the scope for financially contributing to improving and delivering wider regional/local cycling activity.  Separately, considering whether supplementary support should exist for funding behaviour change schemes;
35. Accessibility to airport and public transport hubs such as bus and train stations, via sustainable modes of transport from sub-urban and rural locations.  Access to passenger transport services in areas of low patronage via subsidies or concessions;
36. The on-going requirement for behaviour change activity by removing barriers and changing public perception, improving awareness and influencing the travel habits of individuals;
37. Consideration of the entire A to B journey by sustainable means, i.e. walk or cycle to bus and train services that connect to Heathrow.  Travelling via an ultra low emission bus to Heathrow thus relieving congestion and reducing environmental impacts on other key routes such as the M4/M25;
38. The wider concepts of Public Health and active travel to include quality of life and personal wellbeing in terms of journey experience, cost and value for money.  Exploring the relationships with train/bus capacity, standing or sitting, air conditioning, wifi and mobile desk access for productivity.

Conclusion

39. Improving transport links to Heathrow airport will support existing businesses in the Thames Valley, 75% of whom state proximity to Heathrow as the most important factor in their location, and will encourage more inward investment from new companies establishing in the UK for the first time, 70% of which locate within 60 minutes travelling time of Heathrow.  With an economy worth nearly £30bn, an investment of £500m would help to safeguard the future of the Thames Valley, and the entire UK economy.
40. Air quality in and around Heathrow airport, including Slough, is a major concern to public health.  Improving air quality should be a key priority for surface access transport schemes.

12 October 2015