The UK’s busiest airports – Heathrow and Gatwick – could be connected via a new high-speed railway, cutting times between the two airports to just 15 minutes! The plans, which propose new rail infrastructure to run partly alongside the M25 motorway looping around the capital would provide the first direct route between the two airports.

HS4Air as it would be know would cover 87 miles between Ashford in Kent and Denham, northwest of London – which would connect to HS1 and HS2.

Weston Williamson & Partners, Expedition Engineering and Turley have been involved in the project to develop an outlook and plan – which will be submitted to the Department for Transport by the end of the month.

Nick McGough, Associate Partner at Weston Williamson & Partners, said: ”HS4Air takes the problem of linking HS1 with HS2 and turns it into an opportunity in by-passing London entirely whilst better connecting the UK’s two largest airports and the generally through high speed rail. This generates huge regeneration potential and much wider economic benefits for the whole country.”

Journey times between Heathrow and Gatwick are currently around 1hr and 30mins – with the new proposed line improving this to just 15minutes. It would also see Cardiff to Heathrow reduced by 1hr 10mins and Heathrow to Manchester reduced to 1hr 10mins from 3hr 20mins.

Join us to hear about the economic growth opportunities of high-speed rail at the HS2 Economic Growth Conference.