London Underground was today given the go-ahead to extend the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow Airport’s new Terminal 5.
Transport secretary Stephen Byer’s decision comes after a four year planning inquiry into Terminal 5 and its associated planning applications, including extending the Piccadilly line. An agreement to fund the extension is being negotiated between London Underground and Heathrow Airport Ltd, a subsidiary of BAA plc, which is due to be signed before work commences on the Piccadilly line extension in mid 2002. It will take about five years to complete. |
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We are delighted |
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to get the go-ahead for this extension, which will be a great asset to holiday makers and business |
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people |
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PAUL GODIER
TUBE BOSS |
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Paul Godier, London Underground’s Managing Director said: “We are delighted to get the go-ahead for this extension, which will be a great asset to holiday makers and business people, as well as the capital and the country as a whole.
Terminal 5 |
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will increase the capacity of Heathrow Airport to 80-85 million passengers |
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a year |
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PAUL GODIER |
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“Heathrow is the UK’s principal airport and has 62.5 million passengers a year. The airport and associated businesses employ over 68,000 people, 11% of which use public transport to travel to work in addition to 35% of air passengers. "Terminal 5 will increase the capacity of Heathrow Airport to 80-85 million passengers a year. BAA plc expects that 50% of air passengers will use public transport. |
“Although there is a short term downturn in air traffic, experience of the Gulf war shows this is likely to recover in the next two years, and the lead time for such major schemes means that we still need to press on.
“The extension is a complex project although relatively small in terms of geographical area. Two step plate junctions will need to be constructed around the existing Piccadilly line tunnels west to Terminal 1,2,3 Station.
Heathrow's Terminal 5 |
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“Tube trains will be able to run direct to T1,2,3 while this work is carried out, but trains will not be able to run through to Terminal 4 for about 18 months starting from 2003. We apologise for this inconvenience but it is absolutely necessary while this work is carried out. |
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We apologise |
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for this inconvenience but it is absolutely necessary while this work is |
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carried out |
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PAUL GODIER |
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"However, a replacement bus service will run from Hatton Cross direct to T4 during this closure period.”
The Piccadilly line extension will consist of a branch from Terminals 1,2,3, station in the Central Terminal Area, to a new Terminal 5 station located to the west of the airport. Two services will run from London to the Heathrow loop:
- London – Hatton Cross – Terminals 1,2,3 – Terminal 5
- London - Hatton Cross – Terminal 4 – Terminals 1,2,3