Western Rail Link to Heathrow back on the table

14th November 2025

Nigel Horton-Baker, Chief Executive of REDA, discusses the economic impact that the Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH) would make to Reading, the Thames Valley and all points west. The project, which would provide a link between Reading and Heathrow with a stop in Slough, was put on hold indefinitely in 2020. 

REDA is pleased that the Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH) is back on the agenda. The WRLtH would transform the access to Heathrow from Reading, with a rail journey time via the ‘Link’ taking an estimated 15 minutes on zero carbon electric rail and open up direct access via Reading from all points west for millions of people.  

Reading’s economy has benefitted in the post war period from its close proximity to Heathrow for international trade and inbound leisure and business visitors. This all started when the big IT giants, Microsoft, Oracle Corporation and DEC landed there and turned right to locate in Reading.  Now Reading is an important global business location, which benefits from easy access to Heathrow. This geographical relationship has helped foster a clustering of tech, science, IT digital, film and AI businesses and attract a highly skilled workforce. Allied to a high quality of life, Reading’s economy is predicted to be the fastest growing economy in UK over the next three years.

While we have benefitted from being close to Heathrow, infrastructure investment to access Heathrow has always been prioritised from Central London. This means it takes 50 minutes by Rail Air bus from Reading, while car passengers are often caught up in traffic queues on and around the M4.

Recent investment in Reading’s international class station, the realignment of the rail lines locally to cater for more trains and more efficient north/south and east/west rail, the running of the Elizabeth line trains from Reading into London and the electrification of the Great Western line in conjunction with a new Heathrow ‘Link’ would further strengthen Reading’s position as a prime international business location. However, it will not only be Reading that benefits, but all points west along the Great Western line through Swindon to Bristol and Cardiff, taking many cars, buses and lorry vehicle journeys off the roads.    

REDA has highlighted the WRLtH as a priority piece of strategic transport infrastructure in its soon to be published Reading Economic Development Framework 2025-35 and in the Reading 2050 Smart and Sustainable City Vision which is currently under review. We will be looking to work with partners across Berkshire and to the west to support the updated proposal for this short eight mile, rapid and sustainable rail link into Heathrow.