The government is planning a third runway at the west London airport.

But a study for the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said thousands of jobs would be created and pollution would fall if rail was prioritised.

The Department of Transport said the success of Heathrow as an international hub is fundamental to the success of the UK economy.

The report for the RMT says over a third of flights from Heathrow are short-haul, more than 20 per cent go to destinations already served by a viable rail alternative, and one in five more are to places where rail is a potential alternative.

"Unilateral action to constrain growth at Heathrow means passengers simply choose another airport for their onward flight" - Spokeswoman, Department of Transport

It also claims where high-speed rail links have been opened there has been a significant switch from air to rail, and warns the UK is in danger of being left behind as countries like Spain benefit from rail investment.

The RMT leader Bob Crow said: "This report shows that high-speed rail can provide a win-win solution for the economy and the environment."

But the Department for Transport said "some people will need to fly because they are using Heathrow as a connection to another country".

She added: "Unilateral action to constrain growth at Heathrow means passengers simply choose another airport for their onward flight. This doesn't save carbon, it just costs jobs."

The government was investing heavily in the rail network, with £10bn earmarked over the next five years, she said.

See also:

BAR bites back at RMT

Travel Mole: 25 June, 2008

Airline representative group BAR has hit back at rail union RMT’s report that more rail services should replace short haul flights from Heathrow.

The RMT said more high-speed rail links should be invested in rather than another runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow, claiming 20% of flight journeys out of the London hub could be done by rail.

This, says the union, would benefit the economy, create jobs and cut pollution.

But BAR says the report is flawed because it is London-focussed and ignores the fact that many of the passengers taking short-haul flights do not start their journey in the capital and connect from the regions.

It adds that 80% of journeys cannot be done by rail and the airport is “full to bursting”, adding that even though plans to expand the airport are in their early stages, they are still way ahead of any plans for high speed rail links.

BAR UK’s chief executive Mike Carrivick said: “The debate should not be about planes or trains. It is not one or the other. Instead it should be about how soon rail links to Heathrow can be improved. It is vital that public transport access to Heathrow, and the other major UK airports, is improved.

“Airlines would welcome the addition of new rail links to Heathrow, and we look forward to working with rail stakeholders to achieve those aims.”

He added: “BAR UK played a significant role in saving the Gatwick Express service because of its belief in the vital role rail services play in airport surface access. We would welcome the opportunity to play our part in supporting enhanced rail services to Heathrow.’’

See also:

Economy 'needs trains not planes'

BBC News: 24 June 2008

High-speed rail services could reduce the number of flights from Heathrow

High-speed rail links would benefit the environment and the economy more than plans to expand Heathrow airport, says a survey by the UK's rail union.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said switching investment from airports to tracks would create jobs and cut pollution.

The RMT's report said that if high-speed rail links were introduced, Heathrow would not need a third runway.

It warns the UK may be left behind as European rivals boost rail investment.

Rail revival

The RMT's report found that more than a third of all flights from Heathrow were short-haul and more than 20% of those went to places that could be reached by rail.

"If we provide a viable, fast and sustainable alternative to short-haul flights, the case for Heathrow expansion would evaporate" - Bob Crow, RMT union

It also found that commuters were willing to switch from air to rail where high-speed links existed.

The UK was also in danger of falling behind European countries such as Spain, where the government had announced a significant rail investment, the report said.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Paris remains Heathrow's top destination and there are as many flights leaving for Edinburgh as for New York.

"If we provide a viable, fast and sustainable alternative to short-haul flights, the case for Heathrow expansion would evaporate."

Heathrow row

Last November, the government set out proposals for a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow by 2020, raising concerns about safety and pollution.

Environmental pressure groups have argued that building better rail services would persuade travellers to abandon cars and planes.

The case for modernising UK rail services was highlighted over the weekend by a review from the organisation that controls Britain's mainline railways.

Network Rail said it would look at the prospect of building five new high-speed lines crossing the length and breadth of the UK to cope with increasing passenger demand.

The review would also assess the need for high-speed trains, similar to the French TGV, to cope with the rising number of rail users.

In the past decade, passenger numbers have risen by about 40%.

But the UK has fallen behind its Continental rivals. In France, Germany and Spain, 300km/h train services are common.

See also:

Case for high speed rail grows

Daily Telegraph: 24/06/2008
By David Millward, Transport Editor

Passengers' hopes of seeing high speed rail in Britain have received a further boost with a minister saying there is "a growing momentum" behind the project.

There's growing support for the principle of building high speed lines in Britain from business and unions alike

Tom Harris, the rail minister, said that his personal belief was that there will be new lines capable of being used by trains traveling at 186 mph.

Network Rail, the company responsible for maintaining and building the country's track, has commissioned a study into the viability of up to six high speed lines.

The two likeliest candidates would run from London to Glasgow and the other along the east coast to Edinburgh.

Further lines could also be built from London to South Wales, London to Cornwall, London Marylebone to Birmingham through the Cotswolds and from the capital to Sheffield.

Mr Harris's remarks reflected the growing all-party backing for the idea of high speed rail, with both the Tories and Liberal Democrats backing the idea.

"I think there is the potential for a real shift in how people travel," Mr Harris said.

"Do I think there will be high speed travel in the long term? The answer is yes."

The decision on whether to press ahead with building high speed rail lines is more likely to be taken after the election.

Stephen Hammond, the Tories' rail spokesman, said his party believed that investment would have to be made in extra capacity.

"I think there is growing recognition that we need to consider what infrastructure we will need in the 21st century."

Theresa Villiers, the Tory transport spokesman added: "As some of the worst overcrowded lines run at over 150 per cent capacity, high speed rail could provide part of the solution to Britain's transport problems.

Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat transport spokesman, accused the Government of cutting back on railway investment while insisting his party was alone in backing high speed rail.

"The rail network is in desperate need of expansion if we don't want to force frustrated passengers back into their cars and on to aeroplanes."

There has also been growing support for the principle of building high speed lines in Britain from business and unions alike.

A study from the RMT transport union said that this could provide a viable alternative to short haul rail travel, with a fifth of destinations served by Heathrow reachable by train.

"This report shows that high-speed rail can provide a win-win solution for the economy and the environment," said Bob Crow, the uion's general secretary.

"Paris remains Heathrow's top destination and there are as many flights leaving for Edinburgh as for New York, and if we provide a viable, fast and sustainable alternative to short-haul flights the case for Heathrow expansion would evaporate."

It was also welcomed by David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce.

"Network Rail's announcement is a bold vision and excellent news for the business community. Unlike the Government, which has refused to openly consider the need for new high speed lines, Network Rail is taking an approach that will offer businesses some light at the end of the tunnel having faced constant delays, overcrowding and a declining quality of service over the last decade."

"There have been a number of other proposals put forward in recent years but nothing has come of them. We now need to ensure that there is a real commitment to add new capacity to the network."