New London airport proposed to address Heathrow congestion woes

Titlu: New London airport proposed to address Heathrow congestion woes
Sursa: flightglobal.com
Autor: Kerry Reals
Data: 8.11.2011

Citat :

A group of architects and consultants has revealed a proposal to develop a £20 billion ($32 billion), four-runway airport with twice the capacity of London Heathrow on a piece of land in the Thames estuary, as part of a wider integrated transport solution for the UK that has a total price tag of £50 billion.

In addition to the proposed airport, the "Thames Hub" project would include a new flood protection barrier, plus hydroelectric power stations that could harness enough energy to run the airport, and a four-track high-speed rail route that would circle London and link the airport with the rest of the UK.

The airport, which could be ready by the middle of the next decade, would be capable of handling 150 million passengers a year, and those behind it believe the project will "enable the UK to retain its global aviation hub status". The project is the brainchild of architects Foster & Partners, infrastructure consultants Halcrow and economists Volterra Partners.

Whether the Thames Estuary airport - located on the Isle of Grain, about 36mi (57km) to the east of London - is being proposed as a long-term replacement for London Heathrow remains open for discussion.

"Would Heathrow become a twin hub, would it become a specialist airport or would it close? We are leaving this question entirely open," said Huw Thomas, a partner at Foster & Partners.

However, he pointed out that twin hubs "historically haven't worked", therefore, "the Thames Hub has to become the predominant airport".

With Heathrow almost at full capacity and a new third runway ruled out, Foster & Partners chairman Lord Foster believes the UK "has to look at more strategic alternatives".

Although some 50mi away from London Heathrow, the proposed airport would only be about 8mi south of London Southend.

Environmental concerns - at both local and national level - have been main drivers behind the refusal of a third runway at Heathrow. However, Thomas believes that by developing an airport "with overwhelming rail connections", overall emissions could be dramatically improved.

Earlier this year, London mayor Boris Johnson renewed calls to look into building an airport on an artificial island in the Thames Estuary. The mayor's office could not immediately be reached for comment.

Imagini :

http://www.halcrow.com/Thames-Hub/images.htm