Global infrastructure firm Aecom has agreed to invest in the Heathrow Southern Railway (HSRL), a private sector venture formed to improve rail access to London’s Heathrow Airport.

HSRL plans to construct an eight-mile-long rail infrastructure besides the M25 Motorway from the west end of the Terminal 5 station to provide a smooth passenger transport alternative to the airport from the south.

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The new connection is set to provide a direct link to the existing Windsor-Staines line and enable direct train services between Heathrow and London Waterloo through Clapham Junction, Putney, Hounslow, Twickenham and Richmond.

HSRL chair Baroness Jo Valentine said: “Coming from such an internationally respected organisation as Aecom, this funding represents a significant vote of confidence in our project.

“The funding from Aecom will be used for developing the project to the next stage, which will include further stakeholder engagement, vital given that our proposed new rail connection will benefit many communities in the region.

“Coming from such an internationally respected organisation as Aecom, this funding represents a significant vote of confidence in our project."

“This is a significant step forward for the Heathrow Southern Railway, which will be fully financed privately, at no net cost to the taxpayers, and could be operational by as early as 2024.”

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The new line will also provide an additional connection to the existing Virginia Water-Weybridge line between Heathrow and Woking.

Besides facilitating Heathrow’s accessibility, it will enable a swift connection between Surrey and London with new through trains between Basingstoke/Guildford and London Paddington through Woking, Heathrow and Old Oak Common.

By 2030, the number of passengers travelling through Heathrow Airport is expected to increase from 76 million to 90 million.

The new rail link will enable the airport to provide adequate transport facilities to the growing customer base.

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