A DIRECT high speed train link every 15 minutes between Bristol and London's Heathrow Airport could be created.
The proposals under consideration by government ministers would create a new railway spur that would mean there would be no need for passengers to travel into London and out again to get to Britain's largest airport.
The government also wants to ensure the Great Western main line is connected to its controversial high speed rail network, providing faster links to the north of England and Scotland.
A Department for Transport spokesman said yesterday: "This is something that the Transport Secretary is interested in."
The Heathrow service, which would not be ready until at least 2021, would follow on from the electrification of the Great Western main line, which is expected to cost £1 billion.
It would be expected to cut journey times by up to half an hour. Network Rail, which manages the country's railway infrastructure, has indicated that a service every 15 minutes would be viable if the extra link is created, at a cost of up to £500 million.
The company has been asked by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond to work with BAA, which owns Heathrow, on the plans.
As well as a direct airport link, a hub would link the Great Western line to the HS2 service, making it easier for passengers from Bristol to use the service to travel to the Midlands, the North and Scotland. It would also link up to the new Crossrail route across London.
The Department for Transport said the project would bring "significant benefits" for Bristol.
The link raises the possibility of air passengers who would otherwise use Bristol Airport being tempted away.
But an airport spokesman said: "Bristol Airport supports initiatives to improve access to air travel, and believes rail can play a key role in achieving this as part of an integrated transport system.
"Improving rail links between Heathrow and the South West could help make the region more accessible for inbound business and leisure travellers already flying into London, but there is little spare capacity for the capital's airports to handle more outbound traffic.
"Bristol Airport remains the best option for meeting demand for air travel from the South West, and plans to enhance facilities, routes and frequency of services will reduce the number of unnecessary road and rail journeys to other airports made by passengers from this region in future."
