It was a cornerstone part of an expansion plan put forward in 2008, by engineering firm Arup, to set up the UK's first high-speed rail network north-west of London.
In the late 1980s Arup co-provided the logistical and engineering solutions for the Michael Heseltine-sponsored new East London alignment of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
[1] As to westward expansion, Arup's proposal envisaged a high-speed station at the airport alongside a new air terminal, thus linking both to continental Europe via Eurostar International services.
[3] A largely independent company followed to work out best value and recommend among the main options – the government's 2009 set up of High Speed Two (HS2) Limited.
In July 2010 a minor variant emerged for a 12-platform station at Iver: for High Speed 1, 2, Crossrail and the Great Western Main Line trains.