Examination of Witnesses (Questions 9620
- 9639)
9620. Well, that is the benefit of the exercise.
Say, it is across the platform and you are whisked away in a few
minutes.
(Mr Berryman) In that case, it would be significantly quicker
to go on Air Track rather than going to Paddington, but the alternative,
and the reason I did not answer your question straight, is that
you could be waiting 25 minutes at Paddington for a train. It
just depends on the actual timing of the trains.
9621. CHAIRMAN: You do not happen to
know how long it takes to go on a bus from Reading to Heathrow,
do you?
(Mr Berryman) I am afraid I do not, my Lord, no.
9622. MR ELVIN: The position is going
to change, my Lord, because Mr Taylor and I promoted a new motorway
access onto the M4 at junction 11 some years ago and the roundabout
has just been given the go-ahead, so that would include a dedicated
bus lane out from Reading so the position with Reading will change.
9623. LORD SNAPE: We can have a west-facing
interchange, can we, provided it is a road interchange but we
cannot have one if it is a rail one?
9624. MR ELVIN: It is a little simpler
than a road interchange.
9625. LORD SNAPE: Indeed, I am sure it
is.
9626. MR ELVIN: This is what the benefits
with BAA are summarising in the consultation document with regard
to Air Track—I will get it right—they do not say anything
about journey times.[46]
They do seem to be suggesting it is an improved level of service
and a greater frequency of trains. That rather suggests those
changing at Reading would be in a better position than they would
be at present which must include also the run-through to Paddington
and back again but, as I say, they do not give the figures so
it is difficult to tell.
The Petition of English Welsh & Scottish
Railway Ltd
9627. LORD SNAPE: Do they give any idea
of frequency?
9628. MR ELVIN: Yes, it is on the screen
in front of you.
(Mr Berryman) It is half hourly.
9629. LORD SNAPE: Sorry.
9630. MR ELVIN: You can see there are
two trains per hour in each direction so there will be a half
hourly service and, of course, from Reading there are only two
stops before Heathrow, so it will be a relatively smooth ride
through.
9631. LORD SNAPE: One or two stops?
9632. CHAIRMAN: I think we would like
a copy of that slide, please.
9633. LORD SNAPE: I think you will find
it is more than two.
9634. MR ELVIN: Sorry, three. It is Wokingham,
Bracknell and Staines.
9635. LORD BROOKE OF ALVERTHORPE: That
will go into London Waterloo, presumably using the platforms which
are presently sitting there not being used.
(Mr Berryman) I am not sure whether they will, but the trains
we are talking about will go from Reading into Heathrow; another
set of trains will go from Heathrow into Waterloo.
9636. LORD SNAPE: That diagram shows
a south-facing junction at Staines. Is that accurate or is there
a north-facing junction or is it going to be a north-facing junction?
(Mr Berryman) This is not accurate, my Lord. As you probably
know, there are two branches at Staines, there is the Windsor
line that goes somewhat off to the north and then the line which
goes down to Reading and other destinations. I am not sure that
is any better (Indicating).
9637. LORD SNAPE: That is much clearer!
(Mr Berryman) Can we put up number 10, please?[47]
9638. MR ELVIN: Sorry, that is my fault,
Mr Berryman.
(Mr Berryman) Can we twist it round? Put the picture up,
the diagram, and can you twist it round so it is orientated north-south?
9639. MR ELVIN: Turn it on its side.
(Mr Berryman) Turn it on its side. Sorry to be a nuisance
here, my Lord, but, being an engineer, I can only read drawings
if they are the right way up and orientated correctly.
46 Crossrail P67, BAA Consultation Document-Air Track
(SCN-20080430-047) Back
47
Crossrail P67, BAA Consultation Document-Air Track- Proposed
Route Map: Satines to Heathrow Terminal 5 (SCN-20080430-048) Back
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