THEHEATHROW Express and Gatwick Express train links are to be sold and marketed jointly following a deal between their owners, BAA and National Express.
The two companies plan to integrate services, ticketing, prices and commission payments to create a seamless system under the new brand name Airport Express. Coach services between the airports will be included in the initiative.
In addition, BAA and National Express have announced plans to apply jointly for the Stansted Express rail franchise, which would then be incorporated into Airport Express.
Stansted Express is currently run by train operator Prism as part of the West Anglia Great Northern franchise, which is due to run until 2004.
But BAA and National Express have asked the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority to award it to them as a separate 20-year franchise, preferably before 2004.
A BAA spokeswoman refused to say how much would be invested in the joint venture but admitted the companies would have to spend £100m on new trains if it took over the Stansted Express franchise.
BAA’s upmarket Heathrow Express service is expected to form the model for the new Airport Express product.