Forum Topic

Heathrow passenger numbers soar to record 39.8 million

Not the most welcome news for those of us who live under the flight path:Airport is gearing up for its busiest summer...A record 39.8 million passengers passed through Heathrow in the first half of this year as it put the pandemic behind it.The airport on the western fringes of London reported its “busiest day ever” on June 30, with more than 268,000 people travelling on more than 1,300 flights.It said that in the first half of 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic struck, the total was 38.8 million.Heathrow said it was gearing up for a record number of passengers this summer by ensuring that it had in place a record workforce of 90,000 employees.https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/heathrow-passenger-numbers-soar-to-record-398-million-tk050mrzm

Les Wilson ● 214d18 Comments

I hope not. The TGV trains are manufactured by Alston in France. Alston also make the signalling systems for the TGV  and the RER regional networks.Alston and  ....British Steel make the rails across all French networks.

N V Brooks ● 208d

But they are pretty quick at fixing it!  They probably don't have to send to the EU for any spare parts...

Philippa Bond ● 208d

“ When asked what the contestants would spend the money on they nearly ALWAYS say long haul flights to somewhere on the other side of the planet.”Yes that’s so very true. Also the fact that when we were coming out of Covid and couldn’t fly, restaurants, hotels and AirBnB etc in Devon and Cornwall charged such ridiculously high prices for everything, so people are driven to seek holidays abroad again rather than stay in Rip  Off Britain. Plus of course, weather abroad is more or less guaranteed to be good and here it’s guaranteed to be terrible. But you are right, the vast majority of people here seem to ignore the evidence of climate change when it comes to changing their own lives and habits.

Steve Taylor ● 210d

I watch Impossible, quiz on TV.  When asked what the contestants would spend the money on they nearly ALWAYS say long haul flights to somewhere on the other side of the planet.  Trust me, no one is concerned about climate change!!! I'm nearly 80, bring it on 🤣🤣

Juliet Hogg ● 210d

Agree with Steve Taylor. Hypocrisy at its highest.

C James ● 211d

"France has an excellent rail system."Except when it is sabotaged - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cxe24vg59lzt

Richard Greenhough ● 213d

I last used the train outside of London yesterday, east coast line coming back from my parents.I have also recently used the M1 to get to my parents and a normal 5-6 hour drive took nearly 9 hours at an average speed of under 45 mph due to the ridiculous number of road works currently between Luton and Leeds.Of course the train is more expensive, basically 60% more expensive than the car, but if I am the only one travelling the extra cost is more than compensated for by the ease of the travel

Justin Stephenson ● 213d

“ So when did you last make use of our rail system outside London, Steve ? “Last week. We went to Lyme Regis for a few days and thought we’d save the planet by going by train instead of driving. Big mistake! Managed to get seats going there at 11am on Tuesday but train was very packed. Coming back at 14.15  on Friday not a seat to be had and no space to put luggage. Those who managed to find a seat were cramped with luggage on laps. Terrible.  Never again. Much better and MUCH CHEAPER to go by car.

Steve Taylor ● 213d

In many rural French areas an hourly service, at best l, is what you should expect. Many road routes run alongside the SNCF tracks often carrying TER services which, being run by local councils are fragmented and often unreliable hence the trains are all too often empty. For a far better example of an integrated transport network look to the Netherlands where train, bus, tram and light rail integrate virtually seamlessly and reliably.

N V Brooks ● 214d

So when did you last make use of our rail system outside London, Steve ? I make regular use of long-distance train services and while they are not perfect, they are not usually overcrowded, slow or unreliable. I don't have the evidence to compare their prices with other parts of Europe, but I am sure you will have done so before stating that they are expensive compared with France.

Richard Greenhough ● 214d

SNCF is great largely due to being driven through largely unpopulated and rural areas unlike the UK. Suburban  rail services outside French cities are,from experience, dreadful.

N V Brooks ● 214d

France has an excellent rail system. The UK doesn’t. Overcrowded, expensive, slow and unreliable. Most pleasant. Like Heathrow, the laughing stock of Europe.

Steve Taylor ● 214d

In addition to having fewer seats the new rolling stock is slower around the bends then the existing Pendalino trains currently running between London and Manchester. Well, that was 70 billion pounds well spent wasn't it?

N V Brooks ● 214d

France has banned a lot of short domestic flights that can be undertaken by rail. We now read that HS2 will not cope and the goverment will encourage people not to use the train, as HS2 rolling stock have less seats.

Nicholas Beard ● 214d

I think brits are fed up with the dreadful weather so in hunt for sun & warmth

Jayne Thorburn ● 214d

And the laughable thing is that Heathrow cannot cope with current passenger levels. It’s become a joke as far as international airports are concerned. Always, always delays. Never a seamless service. Either delays in finding a ramp / bay or  baggage handling delays or passport control delays or all of them. You can travel the world with no problems but Heathrow is certain to let you down.

Steve Taylor ● 214d

So much for zero carbon transport. I see they’re already plugging the ‘jobs created’ to justify the pollution.

Peter Evans ● 214d

So much for people going green and worrying about climate change. Yet some locals think they can save the planet by having unused cycle tracks and LTNs. Laughable in the grand scheme.

Steve Taylor ● 214d