Editing Heathrow Express (section)

===Background===
Heathrow Airport, the main [[international airport]] serving [[London]], was connected to the [[London Underground]] network in the late 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 1977 |title=1977: Queen opens 'tube' link to Heathrow |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/16/newsid_2560000/2560019.stm |access-date=11 January 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref> However the journey to central London on the [[Piccadilly line]] takes around 40 to 50 minutes, the same time as a [[Hackney carriage|black taxi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=By rail or train {{!}} Heathrow |url=https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-rail-or-train |access-date=11 January 2024 |publisher=Heathrow Airport |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the early 1980s, the quality of public transport to the airport was criticised at [[Public inquiries in the United Kingdom|public inquiries]] regarding expansion of the airport, with the inspector noting that "a direct and dedicated ... rail link should be provided".<ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction= Parliament of the United Kingdom |title=Heathrow Express Railway Bill |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1989-02-28/debates/07453fa0-dff1-4587-8d91-e2a8b5f30fc3/HeathrowExpressRailwayBillHl |house=House of Lords |date=28 February 1989 |column=1007 |speaker= Lord Jenkin of Roding |quote=The lack of a surface rail link to Heathrow was sharply criticised at the airports inquiries held between 1981 and 1983. The inspector, Mr. Graham Eyre, reported that, "a direct and dedicated BRB rail link should be provided in any event" |language=en-GB}}</ref>

During 1986, the Heathrow Surface Access Study recommended a non-stop [[airport rail link]] between London and Heathrow Airport.<ref name="Green-2014a">{{Cite book |last=Green |first=Chris |title=The Network SouthEast Story |last2=Vincent |first2=Mike |publisher=Oxford Publishing Co |year=2014 |pages=101|isbn=978-0860936534}}</ref> In July 1988, Secretary of State for Transport [[Paul Channon]] approved a joint venture between the [[British Airports Authority]] (BAA) and [[British Rail]] to work on the project, with an opening date of 1993.<ref name="Green-2014a" /><ref name="Railway Technology">{{Cite web |title=Heathrow Express |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/heathrow-express/ |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=Railway Technology |language=en-US |quote=The original £350m project originated in 1993 as a joint venture between BAA and British Railways Board}}</ref><ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction= Parliament of the United Kingdom |title=Heathrow Express Railway Bill |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1989-02-28/debates/07453fa0-dff1-4587-8d91-e2a8b5f30fc3/HeathrowExpressRailwayBillHl |house=House of Lords |date=28 February 1989 |column=1007 |speaker= Lord Jenkin of Roding |quote=my right honourable friend Mr. Paul Channon in July 1988 when he approved in principle British Rail's participation in a joint venture with BAA and invited them to work up detailed proposals. That has now been done and a joint venture has been concluded. |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In November 1988, a Parliamentary bill was introduced, seeking approval to build the project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1988 |url=https://www.nsers.org/1988.html |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=Network SouthEast Railway Society |language=en-GB |quote=November 1988 - Bill introduced in Parliament; the project will be jointly funded by British Airports Authority and NSE}}</ref> The Heathrow Express Railway Act received [[royal assent]] in May 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 May 1991 |title=Heathrow Express Railway Act 1991 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1991/7/enacted |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=legislation.gov.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> In March 1993, government expenditure for the project was approved in the [[March 1993 United Kingdom budget|spring budget]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1993 |url=https://www.nsers.org/1993.html |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=Network SouthEast Railway Society |language=en |quote=16 March 1993 - Heathrow Express given go-ahead with expenditure authorised in Government Budget Day statement.}}</ref> BAA would fund 80% of the cost, with British Rail contributing 20%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 |url=https://www.nsers.org/1990.html |access-date=11 January 2024 |website=Network SouthEast Railway Society |language=en-GB |quote=the £235m cost will be funded by NSE (20%) and British Airports Authority (80%)}}</ref> In August 1993, British Rail and BAA signed the contract to build the line, with an opening date of December 1997.<ref name="Green-2014a"/> Following the [[privatisation of British Rail]] from November 1993, the project was taken over by BAA in 1996.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=25 July 1996 |title=BAA takes total control of Heathrow Express |magazine=[[Rail Business Intelligence|Rail Privatisation News]] |page=3 |issue=35}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Green |first=Chris |title=The Network SouthEast Story |last2=Vincent |first2=Mike |publisher=Oxford Publishing Co |year=2014 |pages=224 |isbn=978-0860936534}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 1996 |title=BAA buys Heathrow rail link |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/baa-buys-heathrow-rail-link-1330080.html |access-date=12 January 2024 |work=The Independent |language=en-GB}}</ref>