Recently released figures show that not less than 2.5 million passengers fly into Heathrow Airport from several British destinations in an average year. Following the release of these figures, the campaign for developing a high-speed rail network has gained a significant momentum. 

Typically, passengers get transferred to a regional hub for connecting with a longer-haul flight. This group becomes the battleground for the debate going on presently concerning the construction of a third runway at the Heathrow Airport. Those opposing the idea of the third runway claim that the data proves that several Heathrow slots are taken up by flights and that this would be unnecessary is there was a high-speed rail service made available.

A transport spokesman noted, "If the case for domestic flights diminishes then the case for a third runway is also weakened. It's absurd to have large numbers of people taking short-haul flights in this country when there is much more extensive use of high-speed rail in other European countries."

With this background, Network Rail is re-considering the need for new rail routes on both the east coast and west coast lines. If a 180 mph line is laid along the west coast route, it would cut the journey time to London in to half, highly benefiting those living in Manchester and Glasgow.

Those who support the high-speed rail scheme claim that if a fast west coast service is introduced into Heathrow, it would totally remove the need for not less than one inbound flight, besides relieving a certain degree of the demand for the third runway at Heathrow airport.