jumpseater - I don't deny the existing traffic problems in the Northold area are bad. Nor will I imagine that this govt is going to produce an integrated transport policy whereby people can transfer from one mode to another with ease ...
I think that many pax would use the an extended Heathrow Express direct to Paddington. Or use the link to Heathrow central to transfer to Piccadilly line.
By the way, "Many pax use domestics to connect with International flights at LHR, there would be no economic sense in taking those pax to an airport 7 miles away from where they need to be."
Not sure what you think I said?! What I thought I had said was that all domestic flights use Northolt. Thus if an internal flight only - they never touch LHR main. If they are starting their international journey in London, naturally, they go directly to LHR Main. Some pax might use public/private transport to be dropped off at the LHR Express terminal at Northolt to connect to LHR main. If they arrive domestically at Northolt, then they use a the Express to shuttle across to T1/2/3/4/5.
Do I think the policitians are going to go for this? No. Am I aware of the considerable cost of compensating people for the drop in value of their houes? Yes.
The question is: Are they going to take fresh green grass and make it tarmac or use tarmac that alreday exists? Answer, they will take new grass.
STN will be expanded in the hope that the tidal wave can be held back until the second runway at LGW becomes available.
In the meanwhile, we all hope the hardworking folks at the radar screens are able to hold it together. It may also be that enough traffic will move over to AMS, CDG, FRA to take the pressure off. However, I doubt that it will be enough to notice.
Of course, if there is prang, they will then be able to do anything. Just look at how British Railways (or whatever they are calling it this month) gets the politicos attention when they have a smack. The history of experience in this country is that we have to wait for people to die - King's Cross, Herald of Free Enterprise, there is a horribly long list. Sorry to be so 'down' and brutal about this but that is how I see it from the sidelines.