SURREY County Council is to examine the possibility of creating a rail link to Heathrow from Guildford.

As well as those travelling to and from the airport, around 9,000 people from Surrey work at the airport but there is currently no direct rail link from the county. It means more than three-quarters of them currently commute to Heathrow on the county’s roads, which are among the busiest in the country.

The news comes after a Network Rail report suggested there was a strong case for a new route connecting Heathrow to Waterloo, Basingstoke and Guildford.

Improved rail access to Heathrow has been identified in the council’s rail strategy as key to helping boost economic growth in the past.

County council cabinet member for environment and planning Mike Goodman said: “Good transport links are vital for economic growth. Thousands of people travel to Heathrow from Surrey every day, whether it’s to go to work or fly for business or pleasure.

“But rail links to the airport from the county are poor and Surrey’s roads are among the country’s busiest.

“That’s why we have decided to launch this study, irrespective of whether Heathrow expands.”

Arup has been commissioned to write the report, which is expected to be published by the summer.

Discussions are taking place about the key areas it should cover.