Airports praised for quality of public transport links

Date: 5/2/2010

A number of airports have been praised for the quality of their public transport links by campaign group Railfuture.

London Gatwick was identified as having "excellent all-round provision" in the report, which highlighted its rail connections.

Southampton Airport was given a better rating than Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, because of its accessibility, and Birmingham Airport, Stansted Airport and Manchester were put forward as examples of best practice in terms of rail connections.

Railfuture spokesman Trevor Garrod said: "Gatwick is a good example of best practice, with the rail station connected to the airport.

"Other rail connections have to be made via a bus or coach link, which is less satisfactory."

The report also highlighted some areas in need of improvement to public transport links.

Mr Garrod called for "joined-up thinking" and said simple actions such as reorganising bus routes so there are more public transport options at airports and railway stations could bring "huge improvements".