Originally Posted by
David-A
No need to restrict it to Virgin Trains, the rail companies generally. However....
Excuse me while I pick myself up from the floor!
Actually, I'm sure HAL would love to be on a mainline and know full well that is Heathrow is actually very badly connected for rail purposes.
HEX is (really) about connection to London.... and about ensuring they have something other than Taxis as an alternative option to the Underground (an extremity of the underground).
CrossRail might improve things.
Also AirTrack really should happen as well.
The economics that allow bmi feeder traffic to work, would not allow trains. [Under the current UK model for train fares and funding.]
The damming in proof is how we regularly tell people on FT, do consider just takign the train to Edinburgh, etc. Don't go from central london all the way out to Heathrow just to wait, fly to EDI and get the bus back into town etc.
However, I understand BAA are part-funding Crossrail. The issue on economics and feeders; depends on the deal you do. If an airline was to block purchase a certain slice of capacity say n seats on y trains from inidividual train operating companies - then it could work - for long haul traffic.