So near and yet so far - is this the end of the line?
Published 15 Apr 2011 09:30
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THE wait for a direct rail link between Reading and Heathrow Airport has been almost as long as it took to get around to building the Channel Tunnel.
At times it has seemed just around the corner and on other occasions at the distant end of a long dark tunnel. But even members of the pessimists' tendency must have begun to believe that, with the plans for expanding Reading railway station and opening up the notorious track bottlenecks on the approaches to the town, the link was at last in sight.
Perhaps an end was in sight for the business community, tourists or holidaymaking families who currently get as far as Reading by train and find themselves 30 frustrating miles or so short of their destination. So near and yet so far. Off the train and onto a coach, or maybe they just ignore the train altogether and add the carbon emissions from the family car to the millions of other vehicles heading lemming-like up the M4.
Obviously the BAA has its own problems, not least a distinct lack of public money, but its decision to ditch the idea and leave Reading out on a limb, once again makes a mockery of the concept of an integrated transport system.
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