Heathrow rail plan
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• by Tim Maughan A scheme for a 2200m railfreight terminal near London's Heathrow Airport could take 2,500 truck movements a day off the roads, if it is given the go-ahead by the Department of Transport Argent, the property development arm of British Telecommunication's pension scheme, has applied for planning permission to build the London International Freight Exchange at the intersection of the M25 and the M4.
An Argent spokesman says the "catalyst" for the plan was the Government's White Paper, The Future of Transport, which states that for every percentage increase in the amount of freight taken up by rail, up to 2,000 trucks could be taken off the country's road.
If the ambitious scheme goes ahead, it is estimated that the terminal will reduce HGV movements by 50 million kilometres a year—equivalent to 600 million tonnes of freight.
The project has been designed to allow for 28 train movements a day. Trains will reach the site from the Great Western main line via the existing Poyle freight line.
The terminal would connect with continental and domestic rail links, as well as with airfreight coming in and out of Heathrow Airport.
The proposed site is in the green belt—Argent expects a public inquiry to be held, probably this September, with a decision next year.
The earliest intermodal operations could start is 2001.