Images Revealed: Proposed HS4Air will create new transport hubs boosting regional economies and slash journey times beyond London. A new image has been revealed for HS4Air, the proposal for a new high-speed railway around London that passes via both Gatwick and Heathrow Airports. The proposal will be submitted to the Department for Transport in response to a call for ideas within the rail sector. The proposal will also have an important role for stimulating much-needed new housing developments in the South East over the coming decades. HS4Air has been developed by London-based Expedition Engineering together with architects Weston Williamson + Partners (WW+P) and planning and development consultants Turley. The proposed new railway, estimated to cost 10bn, is proposed to connect HS1 at Ashford to HS2 North West of London via Heathrow and Gatwick airports with a spur connection to the Great Western Main Line. Dubbed the M25 for high-speed trains, HS4Air would allow train journey times to be slashed from the UK s two most important airports together with their hinterlands in South East England to the Midlands, North England and South Wales. HS4Air will reduce journey times as follows: Ashford to Gatwick: 25 minutes (typically 1 hour 50 mins today) Manchester to Heathrow: 1 hour 10 mins (typically 3 hours 20 mins today) Heathrow to Gatwick: 15 minutes (typically x today) Cardiff to Heathrow: 1 hour 40 mins (typically 2 hours 50 mins today) Birmingham to Paris: 3 hours (typically 3 hours 50 minutes by air) Four new stations along HS4Air at Ashford, Tonbridge, Gatwick and Heathrow will provide important new points of new transport connectivity to the rest of the UK beyond London. Both Heathrow and Gatwick airports will become multi-modal regional transport hubs with many passengers using these stations even if they are not catching a plane. The new connectivity created by the proposed highspeed line and the transport hubs along it are expected to act as a boost for regional economies from South East England to northern England. HS4Air will remove London as the historic barrier for railway connectivity between UK regions North and West of London and continental Europe. By providing a fast bypass rail route around London, fast direct passenger and freight trains from the Midlands and North England to Europe can be made. City centre to city centre journey times from both Birmingham and Manchester to Paris will be faster using HS4Air than travelling by air. As a result, HS4Air will become a catalyst for economic activity between the UK regions and Europe. By taking the people and freight out of London that does not need or want to pass through the congested metropolis, HS4Air is expected to release capacity on the London rail network back for use by the intra-london market.
How the line works HS4Air connects the existing HS1 rail line to the Channel Tunnel to the planned HS2 rail line from London to Birmingham along a route that passes through Gatwick (LGW) and Heathrow (LHR) airports to the south and west of London. HS4Air also includes a connection to the Great Western Main Line railway (GWML) to allow new connectivity with South Wales and the West of England. The connectivity achieved by HS4Air will create a joined-up high-speed railway network across the UK and provide fast nationwide direct rail access to the country s most important airports. The length of the new HS4Air railway extends 140km between its connections with HS1 at Ashford and with HS2 near Denham, North West of London. About 40 percent of the HS4Air line is created by the adoption of an existing Network Rail railway between Tonbridge and Ashford which, being flat and straight, can readily be upgraded for use by for high speed trains. A significant part of the HS4Air project is that it will allow the introduction of a fast shuttle service between Gatwick and Heathrow airports with a 15-minute transfer time. This connectivity will mean that, from a user viewpoint, the two airports will effectively become one airport and mean that both airports will have substantially improved capacity and resilience in terms of their surface transport access. To minimise its impact on environmentally sensitive areas such as the Surrey Hills (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) or to pass under built up areas around the airports, about 20 per cent of the railway will run in tunnels. To the West of London, HS4Air will run alongside the M25, to make use of an existing transport corridor. Stronger transport links between the towns and cities in South East England and the rest of the UK (avoiding London) will stimulate regional economic growth across the country and contribute to the aims of the Governments Industrial Strategy to reduce the productivity gap across the country. HS4Air provides high speed rail connectivity that will stimulate new communities along and adjacent to it. Tens of thousands of new homes could be expected at locations such as the Medway Valley, Ashford and along the M3 corridor. It will also align with existing government housing proposals by creating investor confidence and supporting sustainable transport solutions. Visualisation and Diagrams Visualisation for HS4Air Transport hub at Gatwick. Maps showing impact of HS4Air on combined public transport catchment areas of Gatwick and Heathrow Airports. Map showing regions in England and Wales benefiting from HS4Air connectivity. Map showing growth corridors in South East England associated with HS4Air.
Expedition director Alistair Lenczner said: As a joined-up, strategically important piece of infrastructure, HS4Air offers new connectivity that will provide an economic boost for the entire country. The multi-benefit nature of the project means that its will offer a better return on infrastructure investment than is often the case for infrastructure projects that have only a single primary objective. HS4Air will overcome the barrier that historic London represents in terms of rail connectivity between the UK regions and Europe. By allowing London to be bypassed at high speed, economic activity between the UK regions and Europe can expect to grow. The very positive response the HS4Air project has received from various parties suggests that the proposal can expect widespread public support as it moves forward. WW+P associate partner Nick McGough 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 country generally through high speed rail. This generates huge regeneration potential and much wider economic benefits for the whole country. It is exciting that the DfT s Rail Market Led Proposal initiative opens the door for this sort of innovative proposal. HS4Air can help unlock opportunities for much needed housing in the South East through joined-up and sustainable infrastructure development. Director of Economics at Turley, Amy Gilham said: The HS4Air proposal ties in with many of the UK Government s economic growth objectives. By reducing journey times by rail the line will help to deliver the Government s main ambition of its Modern Industrial Strategy to reduce the productivity gap across the country. It will also help to deliver much needed housing and employment growth in areas of recognised pressure, particularly the South East, by opening up sites and creating opportunities for sustainable development. Jo James, Chief Executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said: As a nation we need to be bold and think big. HS4Air proposal is the sort of forward thinking infrastructure project which could underpin the region s future growth. Improving the rail connectivity between Kent and Gatwick, Heathrow and the rest of the country, would undoubtedly be a big boost for the economy of Kent, and the South East of England. - Ends -
Notes to Editors Original HS4Air Press release The HS4Air proposal was originally launched to the public in March 2018. Please see the attached press release dated 6 March 2018 (attached) which includes information on the HS4Air route and connectivity benefits. DfT call for ideas to enhance the UK s railways HS4Air is to be submitted to the Department for Transport in response to the Rail market-led proposals call for ideas launched on 20 March 2018. The DfT s intention is to encourage promoters and investors to bring forward proposals for enhancing the UK s railways which are financially credible without government support. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file /691751/market-led-proposals-call-for-ideas.pdf Summary of HS4Air transport benefits: Fast direct rail access to both Gatwick and Heathrow airports from major UK cities to the north and west of London. Rail passengers will be able to travel directly to both airports on fast regular services from cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Cardiff without any need to change trains. Dramatically reduced journey times for rail passengers travelling between places south of London and towns and cities in the Midlands, the North and West. By avoiding multiple changes in central London, journey times from Sussex and Kent to the Midlands and West are reduced by up to an hour. Direct international train services from the Midlands and North UK to Europe via the channel tunnel. Compared to journeys by air, high speed train services to Paris from both Birmingham and Manchester will be faster city centre to city centre. Fast rail freight services will by-pass London avoiding the capital s already congested rail networks. By using services via HS4Air, ports such as Southampton offer potentially faster access to markets to Europe than using shipping routes passing through Antwerp or Rotterdam. By allowing passengers and goods to avoid passing through London unnecessarily, significant capacity within London s rail network is released back for use by Londoners. By encouraging a transport modal shift from road and domestic air to rail, HS4Air will relieve pressure on the M25 and the number of domestic flights to and from both Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Modal shift from road and domestic aviation to rail means transportation in South East England can become more environmentally friendly with reduced carbon emissions and less air pollution. National distribution networks for utilities such as power, water and broadband can make use of the proposed HS4Air rail corridor by placing cables and pipes alongside the railway. For example, the National Grid would be able to reinforce its system network south of London by placing buried high voltage cables as Gas Insulated Lines (GILs) alongside the HS4Air railway lines.
HS4Air s Economic Impact People living in 17 authorities along the proposed HS4Air corridor are likely to experience the most benefit from the project. These authorities are home to 1.98 million people (ONS, Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2017) in 1.11 million households (CLG Household Projections, 2014-based). Over the next twenty years there are projected to be a further 261,000 residents (12% increase) and an additional 253,000 households (23% increase) in these areas according to the latest government projections (Sub-National Population Projections, 2016-based projection to 2041 and CLG Household Projections, 2014-based projection to 2039). The proposals will provide key infrastructure for these residents as well as opening-up site opportunities by enhancing sustainable locations and supporting government aspirations for growth. Businesses will also experience benefits. There are 1.00 million jobs located in the 17 authorities (Business Register and Employment Survey, 2016, employment) projected to grow by 17% (Experian UK Local Markets Forecast Quarterly, June 2018 workforce jobs, projection to 2038). The proposals will support this growth being achieved as well as enhance these locations as places to do business as a result of improved connectivity. Population, Households and Jobs in Local Authorities along the proposed HS4Air Route Current and Projected* Existing Growth over Next 20 Years Population 1.98m 12% (+261k) Households 1.11m 23% (+253k) Jobs 1.00m 17% Source: ONS, Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2017; CLG Household Projections, 2014-based; Sub-National Population Projections, 2016-based projection to 2041 and CLG Household Projections, 2014-based projection to 2039; Business Register and Employment Survey, 2016, employment; Experian UK Local Markets Forecast Quarterly, June 2018 workforce jobs, projection to 2038. (*No additional growth above the Government s latest forecasts have been factored in to these figures as a result of additional growth supported by the proposal.) A further 125 authorities beyond the HS4Air corridor will also benefit from improved journey times of under 2 hours to Heathrow and Gatwick. These authorities are home to 27.25 million people (ONS, Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2017), almost half of England s population, in 31.78 million households (CLG Household Projections, 2014-based). Over the next twenty years, these are projected to increase by 3.81 million residents (13% increase) and 6.56 million households (21% increase) according to the latest government projections (Sub- National Population Projections, 2016-based projection to 2041 and CLG Household Projections, 2014-based projection to 2039). As well as improved journey times and rail connectivity to Heathrow, Gatwick and mainland Europe, new housing growth may also be supported in these locations as a result of the improved connectivity. There are 13.89 million jobs located in these authorities (Business Register and Employment Survey, 2016, employment), projected to grow by 16% (Experian UK Local Markets Forecast Quarterly, June 2018 workforce jobs, projection to 2038). The proposals will support this growth being achieved as well as enhance these locations as places to do business as a result of improved connectivity.
Population, Households and Jobs in Local Authorities beyond the HS4Air corridor benefiting from improved connectivity Current and Projected** Existing Growth over Next 20 Years Population 27.25m 13% (+3.81m) Households 31.78m 21% (+6.56m) Jobs 13.89m 16% Source: ONS, Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2017; CLG Household Projections, 2014-based; Sub-National Population Projections, 2016-based projection to 2041 and CLG Household Projections, 2014-based projection to 2039; Business Register and Employment Survey, 2016, employment; Experian UK Local Markets Forecast Quarterly, June 2018 workforce jobs, projection to 2038. (**No additional growth above the Government s latest forecasts have been factored in to these figures as a result of additional growth supported by the proposal.)
The Team behind HS4Air: Expedition Engineering is an independent London-based engineering design consultancy that has gained a strong reputation for innovative design solutions since its establishment in 1999. The practice has won acclaim for its work on projects such as the London Olympic Velodrome, the Infinity Bridge in Stockton-On-Tees and the SNF Cultural Centre in Athens. Beyond design, the consultancy offers an innovation partner role on a wide range of development projects. Expedition has been involved in the design of new HS2 stations at Euston and Old Oak in London. Alistair Lenczner Mobile: +44 (0)7714 247 959 Email: alistair.l@expedition.uk.com https://expedition.uk.com Weston Williamson + Partners is an award-winning architectural and urban design practice with studios in London, Sydney and Melbourne. Current Projects include work on HS2 Phase 1 & 2, Crossrail 1 & 2 and Melbourne Metro line extension. WW+P also work with London Underground, Docklands Light Railway and many residential and mixed use clients. Clare Baxter Mobile: +44 (0) 7890 565261 clare.baxter@westonwilliamson.com www.westonwilliamson.com Turley is an independent planning consultancy with market-leading expertise in design, heritage, economics, strategic communications and sustainability. The company has UK-wide coverage, operating from 13 offices in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, City of Derry~North West, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Reading and Southampton. Turley operates in key development sectors including residential, retail, energy infrastructure, health, education, sports and stadia, hospitality and leisure, business space, minerals and mining, financial institutions and transport infrastructure. Stefan Redfern, Marketing Manager stefan.redfern@turley.co.uk For more information visit www.turley.co.uk, visit @turleyplanning on Twitter