HS2: campaigners against third Heathrow runway hail delay in spur link decision

Campaigners against Heathrow expansion today hailed a delay in deciding on a spur link to the new high speed rail line as proof that a third runway is not a “done deal”.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced that a decision would only be made on a spur line to Heathrow after the Davies inquiry into Britain’s airports reports in 2015.

John Stewart, chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion group HACAN, said: “It’s very clear that a Heathrow third runway is far from a done deal.”

Several Cabinet ministers, including Chancellor George Osborne, are believed to favour another runway at the west London airport to meet the South East’s aviation needs.

But Mayor of London Boris Johnson is firmly opposed to the proposal and instead is backing a new four-runway hub at Stansted or in the Thames Estuary.

The High Speed 2 line from London to Birmingham is due to open in 2026 and will link to Heathrow through an 11-minute Crossrail journey from the Old Oak Common interchange in west London.

A specific HS2 spur to the west London airport could also be built.

Mr McLoughlin today unveiled the Y-shaped route, due to be completed in 2032, for the line north of the Midlands city to Leeds and Manchester.

The Department for Transport said there would be five stops on the 211-mile line at Manchester, alongside the existing Piccadilly station, Manchester Airport, at Toton in the East Midlands between Nottingham and Derby, Sheffield at Meadowhall shopping centre and Leeds.

The journey from Manchester to London would be cut to one hour and eight minutes, around half the current time, and from Leeds to the capital one hour and 22 minutes.

David Cameron trumpeted the new £32 billion line as “an engine for growth” which would spread prosperity to many regions.