Network Rail has been accused of ignoring the recommendations of the Airports Commission by refusing to implement track changes that might allow the Stansted Express to improve services.
While the commission is concentrating on new runways at either Heathrow or Gatwick, it has said that Stansted’s utility and convenience could be transformed by laying four tracks on part of the route into London.
Commission chairman Sir Howard Davies called for “urgent studies” to cut the journey to and from Liverpool Street to half an hour compared with its present 45 to 60 minutes.
Network Rail yesterday published its long-term plans for shaking up train services in the eastern counties.
New plans in its Anglia route study are concentrated on attempting to hit a long-term aim of running trains between London and Norwich in a record time of 90 minutes against the present two hours
However, the document talks only of working up plans on the Stansted line after 2020 in an effort to address rising population demands up to 2043, The Times reported.
The London Stansted Cambridge Consortium – businesses and councils lobbying for better connections to the area – described the move as a “missed opportunity”.
“The study fails to take account of substantial projected population growth in this fast-growing economic corridor and the rapid growth of Stansted airport,” it said.
Network Rail has identified a bottleneck south of Broxbourne in Hertfordshire where Stansted Express trains get stuck behind local stopping services.
But those who are arguing for better services between the City and London’s third airport are frustrated by the absence of any priority for doubling capacity on the two-track Lea Valley line north of Tottenham Hale in the capital to Broxbourne, according to the newspaper.
Connections to Stansted could be further enhanced by the mayor of London’s plans for a southwest/north-east trans-London Crossrail 2 line.