New Heathrow runway ‘will cause chaos across London'

London transport bosses today attacked plans for a third runway at Heathrow as they claimed it would cause severe Tube overcrowding.

Transport for London insiders said the Piccadilly line could be thrown into chaos by demand from millions of extra passengers a year and people could also be "pushed back into their cars".

In its first official statement on the Heathrow expansion, TfL accused ministers of ignoring the problem.

Sources went further by saying the Government had "completely failed" to address the issue of transport. The company will voice its concerns in a judicial review of the Government's runway decision at the High Court starting on Tuesday.

The action has been brought by a coalition of London councils, green groups and residents.

The judge may force ministers to consult again on the proposals, which could derail the project. TfL said: "The Government's policy decision is likely to have adverse effects on London's transport infrastructure."

Edward Lister, leader of Wandsworth council which heads a group of local authorities behind the challenge, said: "No one trusts a word the Government says on the Heathrow expansion."

A Department for Transport official said: "We will defend our decision on Heathrow robustly in court."