Cardiff Airport rail link ‘a white elephant with 5 passengers per train’
16.03.12
Plans to build a direct rail link to Cardiff Airport have been described as an expensive white elephant that would end up carrying just 5 passengers per train, Wales Online reports. Campaign group Stop the Spur, which has been set up to oppose the proposal, says the cost – put at at least £15m – should be used instead to improve existing train services in and around Cardiff.
The Vale of Glamorgan council has included a direct train link in its local development plan and earlier this week transport expert Professor Stuart Cole said building a 1.5-mile spur to the airport from the Cardiff to Bridgend coastal line near Porthkerry would greatly improve accessibility to the hub.
But Stop the Spur spokesman Tom Beardshaw said: ‘In our view a direct link to the airport would be a five passengers per train white elephant. Prof Cole says the link ‘could help transform the airport’ and Steve Hodgetts, the commercial director at the airport is quoted as being fully behind the proposal.'
‘And yet, in his evidence a few days ago to the National Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee, Mr Hodgetts said ‘There is a perception amongst some observers that improved access at the airport will, of itself, improve connectivity and growth. This is a misconception’.
‘He went on to say ‘The infrastructure supporting Cardiff Airport – including access routes – is not currently a critical factor to route development’. That is because the problem with Cardiff Airport is not ease of access – in a recent survey asking passengers why they did not choose Cardiff Airport, 57% cited too few destinations and too few flights while only 3% cited accessibility to the airport.'
Mr Beardshaw also disputed Prof Cole’s claim that a new rail link could give the airport ‘a definite advantage over Bristol Airport’, saying similar claims had been made before the coastal rail line was reopened to passengers in 2005. Yet despite Bristol Airport having no rail link, its passenger numbers have increased significantly while Cardiff Airport’s have slumped.
For more information on this airport new story visit: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2012/03/14/direct-rail-link-to-cardiff-airport-a-15m-white-elephant-with-five-passengers-per-train
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