Luton DART and Luton Airport Parkway Updates

[Amos]

Is there any more on when it will open, apart from the stated 2023?

A piece on BBC 3 counties radio news this morning said that the council claim the dart will be running by Easter.However,later in the same piece it was said they “hope to have it running by April “.

 

[jon0844]

Well, Easter is in April!

On that basis, they should be aiming for the first week of April.

 

[Haywain]

Progress is being made - I've just completed a form to volunteer for passenger trials during February.

 

[adamedwards]

Anyone wanting a sneak preview ride just needs a suitcase and some free time. BBC News - Luton Dart volunteers needed for airport shuttle used by King

Luton Dart volunteers needed for airport shuttle used by King

The passengers will need to bring an empty suitcase and take part in fire evacuation drills.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Backroom_boy]

Volunteer for Luton DART trials

Trials will take place in early February, register your interest to take part today!

subscribepage.io

Direct link to register your interest

 

[Ladder23]

I’ve opted for it, why not!

 

[spag23]

The registration form doesn't say whether they give you a train ticket to get to Luton Airport Parkway. Does anyone know?
They used to give free travel to Meet the Managers events in St Albans (my starting point anyway).
I'm keen, but not at my own expense, for either the fare or my petrol.
Just a remote chance of a £250 raffle win is a bit naff!

 

[miklcct]

Volunteer for Luton DART trials

Trials will take place in early February, register your interest to take part today!

subscribepage.io

Direct link to register your interest

I don't have a suitcase. Why does it need one?

I have flown from Luton and will continue to do so this year.

 

[pdeaves]

I don't have a suitcase. Why does it need one?

So they can test scenarios with loads of people and loads of luggage.

 

[OliverH68]

Wondering if anyone heard back from the volunteering form? Or will they have likely got their spaces filled up already

 

[Ladder23]

Wondering if anyone heard back from the volunteering form? Or will they have likely got their spaces filled up already

Yes I have - check junk! Signed my declaration yesterday but I'm now unsure whether I can make it, will have to figure today and let them know otherwise

 

[spag23]

Are they paying your fare to Luton?

 

[Ladder23]

I live/ work in Luton so I ain't too bothered about the few quid it'll cost me, I can't be bothered to look into it actually!

 

[Mikey C]

Are they paying your fare to Luton?

Are they paying people to go to Luton?

 

[smjxm09]

First public trial photos published online. ( reproduced here with permission of owner). The second trial has been cancelled due to major heath and safety issues discovered with the trains by the first trialists.

It has been reported that the original cost of £200m will be closer to £300m and that the project is opening 3 years late. The journey takes 2 minutes 38 seconds and will give you 20p change out of a £10 note for a return trip.
First 3 photos are at the airport station.

 

[Hadders]

£9.80 for a return seems offensively expensive when the existing shuttle bus is £3.80 for a return.

 

[Bald Rick]

£9.80 for a return seems offensively expensive when the existing shuttle bus is £3.80 for a return.

I might be wrong, but it seems you can get to Parkway from St Pancras for less than that!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Anyone not wanting to pay that can use the Arriva bus for about two quid each way. I used that in preference to the rather grim, overcrowded dedicated bus anyway. Exit from the back of the station and the stops are right there.

This sort of nickel and diming at airports is unavoidable when the likes of Ryanair refuse to pay enough airport user charges to cover the costs of operation.

 

[spag23]

£9.80 for a return seems offensively expensive when the existing shuttle bus is £3.80 for a return.

That works out at an outrageous £3.50 per mile travelled!
This must be a record.
They are charging taxi rates for a mass transit system.

 

[Watershed]

Anyone not wanting to pay that can use the Arriva bus for about two quid each way. I used that in preference to the rather grim, overcrowded dedicated bus anyway. Exit from the back of the station and the stops are right there.

This sort of nickel and diming at airports is unavoidable when the likes of Ryanair refuse to pay enough airport user charges to cover the costs of operation.

London Luton Airport made a healthy profit before Covid, even without the money from the DART. Charging £9.80 for a return is pure profiteering.

In terms of brazenness it's still beaten by the Pisa airport mover, which charges €5 each way - even though you can easily walk it in from the main station in 15 minutes!

 

[Ladder23]

£9.80 for a return seems offensively expensive when the existing shuttle bus is £3.80 for a return.

Disgusting prices!

 

[smjxm09]

As the airport is a valid destination for a through ticket, passengers should be able to buy a ticket from any U.K. station so what about buying a ticket from the exiting station on other side of the tracks at Parkway? It would mean passing through 3 sets of gate lines to board the Dart.

Now what about a ticket bought at the airport for Parkway, as on the Dart side there will be no passenger pick up or drop off forecourt, just a taxi rank and replacement bus service bus stops. This means passengers would again need to get to the other side of the railway tracks and exit there via the existing station if someone was being picked up. I can’t see how a Dart ticket to Parkway would allow access through the Thameslink barriers unless Parkway Thameslink was sold a separate destination.

 

[John R]

£9.80 for a return seems offensively expensive when the existing shuttle bus is £3.80 for a return.

Are they trying to make the Heathrow Express look cheap by any chance?

That’s really going to encourage modal shift isn’t it, charging a tenner per person for a service that many people might perceive or expect to be free ( ie an airport people mover taking you from a station called Luton Airport to the terminal itself).

 

[smjxm09]

Most people buying a ticket will buy a through ticket so the actual cost of the Dart will be hidden. I have read that there will be no child fares so a family of 4 will spend £38.40 for a return 5 minute trip making a return taxi cheaper.

 

[jagardner1984]

Made the assumption that, for example like the couple of minute automated journey from Birmingham International to Birmingham Airport, or inter terminal at Heathrow or Gatwick, this would be included for users of either place. Given vehicle drop off at the long stay (5 minute walk) is still free, I can’t imagine this is going to do much to take people off the roads around LTN. Breathtakingly shortsighted.

 

[Haywain]

Made the assumption that, for example like the couple of minute automated journey from Birmingham International to Birmingham Airport, or inter terminal at Heathrow or Gatwick, this would be included for users of either place. Given vehicle drop off at the long stay (5 minute walk) is still free, I can’t imagine this is going to do much to take people off the roads around LTN. Breathtakingly shortsighted.

If the purpose was to take people in cars off the roads it's been built in completely the wrong place.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As the airport is a valid destination for a through ticket, passengers should be able to buy a ticket from any U.K. station so what about buying a ticket from the exiting station on other side of the tracks at Parkway? It would mean passing through 3 sets of gate lines to board the Dart.

Why would anyone other than an absolute ticket office obsessive do that?

Now what about a ticket bought at the airport for Parkway, as on the Dart side there will be no passenger pick up or drop off forecourt, just a taxi rank and replacement bus service bus stops. This means passengers would again need to get to the other side of the railway tracks and exit there via the existing station if someone was being picked up. I can’t see how a Dart ticket to Parkway would allow access through the Thameslink barriers unless Parkway Thameslink was sold a separate destination.

Why would you want to pick up/drop off there when the charge for doing so at the airport is if I recall less than (or at least no more than the same as) a Dart single, plus it's free in the mid stay car park?

If the purpose was to take people in cars off the roads it's been built in completely the wrong place.

It's not to take cars off roads and never was. It's to grow the airport use by improving its connection to London by rail. Cars are irrelevant to journeys to/from London - basically nobody is going to hire a car and drive there because the shuttle bus is a bit of a faff.

 

[Geogregor]

First public trial photos published online. ( reproduced here with permission of owner). The second trial has been cancelled due to major heath and safety issues discovered with the trains by the first trialists.

Do you happen to know what the "major health and safety issues" are? Possible delay of the opening likely?

As for the prices, its is a bloody joke...

 

[Bletchleyite]

As for the prices, its is a bloody joke...

Like Heathrow Express I guess it gives an indication of what unsubsidised rail would actually cost...

 

[alf]

The helpful post 345 says journey time on Dart is 2 mins 38 secs.

It may be telling to compare the Dart journey time from alighting at the national rail Parkway platform to stepping into the airport terminal... compared with alighting from the the platform to stepping into the airport terminal via the existing shuttle bus from Parkway.

To be a fair comparison you would have to add the relative average wait time(half the frequency?) for Dart & the shuttle bus.

I am shocked by the high Dart fare but if it saves time versus the road trip it may be worth it..depending on how you value your time.