High Speed Rail to run through Ruislip

Work would be unlikely to start until 2017 at the very earliest with a potential 2026 open date cited, and the project could create 10,000 jobs.

This Interchange could potentially open up the line for a 'Heathrow Loop', although this is only a suggestion at this stage.

Proposals for a 'Heathrow Loop' would see 29 miles of underground tunnelling, underneath busy areas such as West Drayton and Yeading.

The report states: "After departing from the Crossrail Interchange station, HS2 Ltd's recommended route would leave London via the Ruislip area, making use of an existing rail corridor.

"It would then cross the Chilterns in the Aylesbury direction, partly in tunnel before following the route of the A413 past Wendover."

"The only credible option for routing the main high speed line via Heathrow would entail a near-continuous tunnel of around 29 miles - almost the length of the Channel Tunnel - as well as increasing the journey time by around three and a half minutes compared to HS2 Ltd's recommended route."

"Even if only a spur to the airport was provided, which would substantially reduce the capacity of the line to central London as Heathrow trains would terminate at the airport, the tunnelling required would lead to costs in excess of £1.5 billion."

The line, which has been confirmed from London to Birmingham, will race through Ruislip, along the Chiltern Line, before heading through The Chilterns and up to Birmingham.

MP John Randall believes work to widen the line could be substantial and affect houses in South Ruislip.

He said: "What we do not want is for the area to become blighted like the villages which are feeling the effects of the Third Runway (Harmondsworth and Sipson).

"We have got to be slightly careful how we approach this as it is going to happen, we must a find a way that everything is done right, and residents are treated well."

He also expressed concerns about the effect the possible Heathrow Loop would have on the area.

"A tunnel could have a big effect on the areas because of the work and the noise, and I will be monitoring the situation closely."

Rachel Moore, chair of the Ickenham Residents Association, said: "If this goes ahead then they may be looking at widening the railway at that point which would affect Ruislip Golf Course, the West Ruislip Station, which would be rebuilt, the station car park and would involve the demolition and rebuild of the High Road rail bridge, according to the report.

"Essentially, as an Association we will be reviewing the proposals carefully and consulting residents across the village, but particularly in the affected areas near to the railway, so that we can submit a detailed response to the Consultation this Autumn.

"We are also liaising with the West Ruislip Councillors and arranging to meet Nick Hurd MP."

The plans have not been positively received by a number of parties, particularly residents group NoTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group), who feel the plans do not go far enough, and if were expanded, could mount a credible case for opposing Heathrow expansion.

Geraldine Nicholson, the chair of NoTRAG, said, "If the Government thought it was going to get plaudits from us for its plans, it is sorely mistaken.

"What we want to see is a high speed rail scheme that goes all the way to Scotland; a scheme that is designed to make it easy for people to use the train instead of the plane. We will oppose any scheme that does not involve the dropping of the third runway.

"If the Government thought it would win green brownie points with this announcement, it has failed dismally."

Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have said that they favour high-speed rail instead of a third runway. Both parties have said they will drop plans for a third runway if they win the forthcoming General Election.

The Conservatives have spoken in favour of a Crossrail interchange based at Heathrow.

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: "Failing to take HSR through Heathrow would be a big mistake and a major lost opportunity for the environment.

"Labour's deeply misguided support for a third runway (at Heathrow) has distorted their approach to HSR."

Labour MP John McDonnell is campaigning against the third runway, but find his constituency caught between two evils.

He prefers the Crossrail Interchange which is suggested for Old Oak Station in Paddington, not the Conservative choice at Heathrow, which he feels would result in more unwanted development.

He said: "The Government's plans for a high speed rail link via Old Oak Common to Birmingham and eventually to Scotland proves that there is certainly no need for a third runway.

"We will defeat the third runway but now I fear that the Conservative plan for a major rail terminal in West Drayton with a line through Harmondsworth means that we are being thrown from the frying pan into the fire.

"We will save Sipson and Harmondsworth and the other Heathrow villages from the third runway only to see West Drayton and Harmondsworth threatened with obliteration by the Tories' rail proposals."

What do you think of the High Speed Rail plans? E-mail editorialuxbridge@trinitysouth.co.uk