London-Scotland rail benefits a 'total nonsense'

London-Scotland rail benefits a 'total nonsense' - Rowlands

: Latest News; Thursday, 27 January 2011

Sir David Rowlands, a former chairman of the High Speed Two (rail) project reportedly is ready to debunk as "total nonsense" the UK government's claim that a 250mph north-south rail link can replace a third runway at London's Heathrow airport.

Rowlands has made it plain he sees no evidence that any rail service linking London and Scotland could solve capacity problems at Britain's congested airports.

"A link from Heathrow does little for the high-speed network - and the network doesn't do much for Heathrow," he says.

"It is a nonsense to suggest that a high-speed network means there is no need for more runway capacity in the south-east."

Rowlands was expected to make his claims public at a Transport Times aviation conference Thursday UK time.

London-Scotland rail benefits a 'total nonsense' - Rowlands

Latest News

Thursday, 27 January 2011

Rowlands has made it plain he sees no evidence that any rail service linking London and Scotland could solve capacity problems at Britain's congested airports.

"A link from Heathrow does little for the high-speed network - and the network doesn't do much for Heathrow," he says.

"It is a nonsense to suggest that a high-speed network means there is no need for more runway capacity in the south-east."

Rowlands was expected to make his claims public at a Transport Times aviation conference Thursday UK time.