A campaign has been launched to connect Hampshire to Heathrow Airport via a direct rail link.

The 'Hampshire to Heathrow' initiative aims to secure the future of rail travel in the region by introducing the Heathrow Southern Railway.

This project aims to offer a direct rail link between the South Western Main Line and Heathrow Airport, benefiting many communities across Hampshire, including Southampton, Winchester, Basingstoke and Portsmouth.

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Heathrow Airport (Image: PA) The campaign is being led by local campaigner and former trade minister Sir Ranil Jayawardena.

Sir Ranil said: "With Hampshire to Heathrow, we are not only seeking to make travel easier for people getting to and from Britain’s biggest airport, but also opening up our county to greater economic opportunities.

"Having served as international trade minister, I secured inward investment and greater trade opportunities across the United Kingdom, so I know that projects like this are critical to positioning any area as open for business.

"Together, we can connect our communities to the world and improve Hampshire’s infrastructure in the process."

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The campaign outlines several key objectives, including reducing journey times to the airport with more convenient travel to one of the world's busiest airports – rather than buses, taxis or private cars, boosting the local economy by generating job opportunities, and cutting air pollution by providing an alternative to car travel.

As the government has shown support for a third runway at Heathrow, the campaign urges the government to improve the transport infrastructure in advance.

People across Hampshire are encouraged to show their support for the initiative by completing a 60-second survey on the campaign's website: ranil.uk/hampshiretoheathrow.

The initiative is based on the belief that improved transport links will not only make travel easier for those commuting to and from Heathrow but will also attract international investment and enhance Hampshire's global reach.