ARmy Rumour SErvice

I still don't know why they can't find a way of making (former RAF) Manston work as a 'proper' airport. If I recall it has one of the longest runways in Europe, is serviced by a brand new dual carriageway which links to the M2 and would bring a lot of investment to one of the deprived areas in the UK if not Europe - Thanet!

Plus only 30mins from where they were proposing this new airport!

IIRC one of the issues was noise meaning the planes had to 1st go north then go all around Kent rather than cut straight across the Channel meaning extra costs but surely it would be worth it?

When the original consultation went on back in 2005 (ish) the short term solution was to build a 3rd runway at LHR to ease the current issues rather than see that as a long term solution.

Boris is absolutely right in that a proper, modern airport is needed for London, The current mess is a total farce. I'm based at LHR and it's a total shambles on a daily basis. LGW isn't much better and the mix of Luton and STN being thrown into the mix, just confuses the issues.

Air travel is essential to the economic well being of a nation, successive UK governments seem to not realise that and have treated it as a rich person's thing to be taxed into oblivion, when of course it isn't. It's a transport system like any other, it's just fashionable to have a pop at it.

Governments pour billions into a rail network which is still crumbling, but give sod all to air transport and so seem to do their best to frustrate the aviation industry in order to protect rail.

We're pretty good at aviation in the UK despite the best efforts of Government meddling, we could even be world leaders again if we were allowed.

UK is decades behind the curve on updating aviation facilties (along with every other aspect of transport and economic policy), and the damage to the economy is apparent to anyone who now travels through European hubs. LHR and LGW should get extra runways as an immediate short-term fix, then perhaps the estuary airport contemplated as an addition. People complain about traffic congestion around LHR - but look at the utter shambles on the other side by the Dartford crossings. Hard to see an estuary airport being of any use unless it is provided with express bullet trains into central London, free/additional crossings over the Thames - and miles of motorway links.

Originally Posted by 4(T)

Hard to see an estuary airport being of any use unless it is provided with express bullet trains into central London, free/additional crossings over the Thames - and miles of motorway links.

Affordable bullet trains that is - not like the Heathrow Express rip off service. Manston could be do-able, but a brand new, purpose-built Harry Spankers airport in the thames estuary would be preferable - much like the chinks did with Chek Lap Kok. I cannot understand the noise argument re: Manston. Modern a/c engines are not noisy. I grew up on the flightpath of Ringway (as was) and those 707s, VC10s and DC8s really made the non-double glazed windows rattle. I still visit regularly and the noise is barely discernable.

Originally Posted by 4(T)

UK is decades behind the curve on updating aviation facilties (along with every other aspect of transport and economic policy), and the damage to the economy is apparent to anyone who now travels through European hubs. LHR and LGW should get extra runways as an immediate short-term fix, then perhaps the estuary airport contemplated as an addition. People complain about traffic congestion around LHR - but look at the utter shambles on the other side by the Dartford crossings. Hard to see an estuary airport being of any use unless it is provided with express bullet trains into central London, free/additional crossings over the Thames - and miles of motorway links.

I understood that the airport would link into High Speed 1 from St Pancras to Brussels and Paris...

Originally Posted by BuckFelize

Affordable bullet trains that is - not like the Heathrow Express rip off service. Manston could be do-able, but a brand new, purpose-built Harry Spankers airport in the thames estuary would be preferable - much like the chinks did with Chek Lap Kok. I cannot understand the noise argument re: Manston. Modern a/c engines are not noisy. I grew up on the flightpath of Ringway (as was) and those 707s, VC10s and DC8s really made the non-double glazed windows rattle. I still visit regularly and the noise is barely discernable.

I would support the estuary airport, it might also bring about another tunnel link between Kent and Essex. Issue then is the M25.

To which I would say that this government must revisit the Channel and Tunnel and with the gauge widened HS1, ...encourage... all vehicles on to piggy back services now been mooted by the railway - go to Passau and watch the trucks being loaded for their journey through Austria ... and then drive on an Austrian motorway, vive la change.

Manston is a spit and a fart from Ramsgate,where HS1 starts from,problem is NIMBY's,and perceived noise.

LHR is a spent idea,the estuary airport is a great idea,rail link wouldn't be that hard,but you're all forgetting the 'birdies',that stop of on the wetlands of North Kent,at the moment the 'tree huggers' are winning the argument.

What is needed,is a government to just make the desicion,and do it,and I expect if that's what we have to wait for,then not in my lifetime!

Originally Posted by Kromeriz

I would support the estuary airport, it might also bring about another tunnel link between Kent and Essex. Issue then is the M25.

To which I would say that this government must revisit the Channel and Tunnel and with the gauge widened HS1, ...encourage... all vehicles on to piggy back services now been mooted by the railway - go to Passau and watch the trucks being loaded for their journey through Austria ... and then drive on an Austrian motorway, vive la change.

Used to be,the BR MotorRail depot,was behind Olympia,put your car on a flatbed there,drive it of in Inverness,not an bad idea,just needs the customers,I suppose with some kind of Cross Rail link,get the flats onto the HS line,then through the Tunnel,and away the other side,Europe's your oyster!