Stansted’s managing director has called for the restoration of four trains an hour to London to help the airport’s sustainability and growth plans.
The frequency of Stansted Express trains to Liverpool Street station halved during the pandemic from four to two per hour.
With passenger numbers almost back to pre-pandemic levels, the airport says it needs four trains per hour to be reinstated.
Speaking at the annual Transport Forum, Gareth Powell said: “We’re fast returning to 2019 volumes, and we therefore need a higher frequency, more convenient rail service, the likes of which serve the other major London airports.
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“This will also enable us to deliver the most sustainable recovery possible, encouraging more passengers back onto trains and out of private cars, in line with a key pillar of the government’s recent aviation strategy.
“We achieved the highest public transport modal share of any major UK airport – more than 50% of passengers travelled to or from the airport by public transport in 2019.”
After the event, he added: “National Express and Greater Anglia are committed to doing all they can to support our sustainability agenda and drive down emissions as much as possible.
“We just now need government agreement to push the button on four trains an hour.”
Other speakers at the forum included John Boughton, National Express commercial director, who discussed the untapped potential of coach travel as a cheaper, more environmentally friendly alternative to private cars.
The Transport Forum was held at Stansted airport’s Radisson Blu Hotel on Wednesday (November 23).
