AirTrack comes a step closer to reality

AirTrack - the plan to create a south of the river shuttle service to Heathrow airport - came a step closer to reality earlier this month when BAA asked the government to proceed with the scheme.

I'm a big supporter of AirTrack: its a major hassle for south Londoners to get to Heathrow and this scheme will make it much easier and take pressure off the Paddington shuttle service. What's more it's value for money: it'll run along existing track for 95% of its length - the only new line needing to be laid will be a spur between the airport and Staines.

In fact the only downside of the existing AirTrack plan is that it won't stop at Putney - but that's something I'm campaigning for and, as MP, will push hard for. In that I hope we can count on the support of the Council, who have been supportive of the plans as well.

And let's be clear: South London deserves AirTrack irrespective of the expansion of Heathrow. It's right that as many journeys to the airport as possible take place on public transport but without such a link doing so is a nightmare too far - on top of an already stressful experience.

You can find out more about AirTrack here (the BAA site) or here (the AirTrack Forum) - I also first wrote about the idea way back at the beginning of 2008 here.