1. Why build this new link to Heathrow?
Make greater use of existing investment in Reading station and reduce congestion at Paddington
Improve accessibility to Heathrow from the South coast, South West, South Wales and West Midlands
Speed up journey times to Heathrow Airport
Reduces congestion on M4, M3 and M25 and encourage modal switch
Provide greater accessibility to employment locally, nationally and internationally
Enhance the UK’s global competitiveness
Boost economic growth and jobs to Thames Valley and beyond

2. Potential journey time savings
4 trains per hour in each direction
- all trains calling at Reading and Slough
- alternative trains calling at Twyford and Maidenhead
Station
Current average rail journey time
Potential new rail link journey time
Average car journey time
Reading
68 minutes
26 minutes
40-60 minutes
Twyford
67 minutes
21 minutes
30-45 minutes
Maidenhead
59 minutes
14 minutes
20-35 minutes
Slough
52 minutes
6 minutes
15-25 minutes

3. Environmental and economic benefits
Excellent transport links with international markets to secure trade and investment
Predicted 42,000 new jobs nationally
Predicted over £800m of additional UK economic activity
55% of the journeys are extracted from road
More places in the South & South West are within the ‘Golden Hour’ travel time to Heathrow
CO2 emissions reduction equivalent to 30 million road miles per year
36 milion road miles off the congested motorway system
Additional 20% of UK population within one interchange to Heathrow