Airlines sceptical that Heathrow's HS2 station will be built

Airlines fear plans to link the HS2 line with Heathrow will never happen, according to one of the men leading the fight against the high speed plans.

The director of Heathrow Hub Ltd, Steve Costello, believes airline bosses are 'apprehensive' about the plans because of the poor business case behind the spur line.

The Heathow stop on the HS2 line is not scheduled to open until 2033.

Mr Costello says that airlines believe it will never be built because it is likely to only feature one train an hour, which would not make it financially worthwhile.

He also claims that air passengers would chose not to use the service because they will not want to rely on public transport being on time

He said: "Across Europe, in places like Frankfurt, the trains stop more often so if you miss one there's another along in 10 or 15 minutes.

"But with HS2, figures show there's likely to be less than one train an hour and people will think they could miss their flights."

Meanwhile the activist, who is speaking in Great Missenden this week, is involved in a high court legal challenge claiming the government's decision to proceed with HS2 was unlawful.

He said: "What we have not done is ask what's the problem we are trying to solve?

"We should be looking at the railway as a network, not a point to point from London to the West Midlands.

"Part of our concern is that it seems premature to make a decision on high speed rail without an aviation policy and that is going to be looked at later this year. What we are doing as a county is saying lets go ahead with a very expensive high speed rail line and then think about aviation."

Mr Costello believes that a Heathrow HS2 station should not be the government's priority and it should instead focus on joining up existing railway lines to improve connections - such as from Aylesbury to London.

He has also criticised the HS2 plans for leaving Bucks with 'all the problems and none of the benefits'.

The activist says HS1 is Kent was a 'success' because it runs next to a motorway, has trains that stop in the county and passes through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at its narrowest point .

Heathrow Hub Ltd is a priavtely funded campaign group which is run by four members.

Mr Costello will outline his views to the Conserve The Chiltern And Countryside group at The White Lion Pub from 7pm on Wednesday (today).