23.05.17
TfL in High Court dispute with Heathrow over Crossrail fees
Proposals to run Elizabeth Line trains through Heathrow Airport have been jeopardised by a legal dispute over fees imposed by the airport.
Heathrow, which spent £1bn building the five-mile line linking Heathrow to the Great Western main line 20 years ago, have argued that TfL should pay for the construction of the line through track access charges that could amount to £42m a year.
These charges are broken down into a £597 fee per train to recoup historical building costs and a charge for operational expenditure amounting to £138 per train.
The ORR had ruled that Heathrow would not be allowed to charge Crossrail for the costs of building the line, the Heathrow Express, which the Elizabeth Line would run on.
A spokesperson said: “In May 2016, taking into account representations and evidence from affected parties, including considerable documentation and submissions from Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL), we decided HAL is not permitted to introduce all of its proposed new charges for train operators to use its track, which links Heathrow Airport to the Great Western main line.”
But this is a decision that Heathrow has in an attempt to still try and place the charges on Elizabeth Line services, run by TfL. The hearings were held earlier this year and a High Court judgment is expected within weeks.
Despite this, a spokesperson for the airport said Heathrow was still “committed to increasing public transport to Heathrow and look forward to the arrival of Crossrail in May 2018”.
They added that “we need to ensure that track access charges are fair and we are waiting on a ruling from the courts on whether the regulations apply and if so, their correct application to cost”.
Stephen Joseph, Campaign for Better Transport’s chief executive, stated that Heathrow “could not have it both ways” in terms of increasing links and generating income.
“Increasing public transport is integral to ensuring the airport cuts pollution and meets air quality targets,” he said. “This case shows Heathrow is making promises to deliver but isn’t prepared to pay their share of the associated costs.
“This doesn’t bode well for Heathrow’s commitment to pay for surface access costs for a new third runway, which could top £18bn, and means taxpayers could be left footing the bill.”
RTM has contacted TfL for comment, but at the time of publication had not received response.
Top Image: Warren Rohner
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