Luton DART and Luton Airport Parkway Updates

[vic-rijrode]

Wow, I hadn't realised that the cable mechanism looks for all the world like an inclined plane on the old coal waggonways. Just more modern and concrete instead of iron and wood!

 

[edwin_m]

Wow, I hadn't realised that the cable mechanism looks for all the world like an inclined plane on the old coal waggonways. Just more modern and concrete instead of iron and wood!

It's very similar, although here each "train" has its own winding mechanism so it can move independently and at quiet times one of them can be shut down for maintenance. Funiculars (some of which are similarly modern) and traditional inclined planes work on the counterbalance principle where one train/vehicle goes down as the other goes up.

 

[Adlington]

Funiculars (some of which are similarly modern) and traditional inclined planes work on the counterbalance principle where one train/vehicle goes down as the other goes up.

For the record: there are single-track (thus single-vehicle) funiculars. For example San Vigilio funicular in Bergamo.

 

[edwin_m]

For the record: there are single-track (thus single-vehicle) funiculars. For example San Vigilio funicular in Bergamo.

These, I presume, must have a counterweight running on its own track to be classed as a funicular - I've seem to recall seeing one somewhere with a separate track for the counterweight underneath the one for the passenger car. I don't believe the DART has these.

 

[Haywain]

running on its own track to be classed as a funicular - I've seem to recall seeing one somewhere with a separate track for the counterweight underneath the one for the passenger car.

Southend.

I don't believe the DART has these

No, it is cable hauled.

 

[Backroom_boy]

It's very similar, although here each "train" has its own winding mechanism so it can move independently and at quiet times one of them can be shut down for maintenance. Funiculars (some of which are similarly modern) and traditional inclined planes work on the counterbalance principle where one train/vehicle goes down as the other goes up.

If the cable braking is regenerative, could you class it as a virtual funicular? (I don't know if it is btw)

 

[Geogregor]

Some shots from the last weekend:

P1560169 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1560170 (2) by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1560171 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1560173 (2) by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1560174 (2) by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1560175 (2) by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1560176 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Quite good view along the route:

P1560178 (2) by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Going underground for the last stretch:

P1560180 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

 

[Basil Jet]

That looks like they've built enough viaduct for a long station, but then fouled the space for a long station by putting the track where it will need to be slewed outward if the station gets extended. That seems strange!

 

[JaJaWa]

That looks like they've built enough viaduct for a long station, but then fouled the space for a long station by putting the track where it will need to be slewed outward if the station gets extended. That seems strange!

Probably slows down on the bend so they put the bend next to the station to prevent the train speeding up then immediately slowing back down (the automated Taipei Metro Yellow line is guilty of that)

 

[Edvid]

Passed by the other day and the DART-replacement bus stop made unusable by a concrete security block has been removed. Not a great loss (the longer stop is still there), but it makes you wonder why it was even created there in the first place.

Indeed that whole portion of roadspace - despite its designation as a taxi rank on the website - is basically a fenced-off staff car park. Then again I can't remember the last time I've seen someone use a taxi at the station; anyone who does probably isn't travelling to/from the airport, at least while the DART is operational.

 

[edwin_m]

That looks like they've built enough viaduct for a long station, but then fouled the space for a long station by putting the track where it will need to be slewed outward if the station gets extended. That seems strange!

Looks like they could re-fix the track further to the right relatively easily if they ever needed to.

 

[Mike395]

On the trial day I attended one of the project team did say there was passive provision for longer trains - hence the wider-than-needed viaduct just after departure from Parkway - should they need to extend the platforms (and also the longer-than-currently-needed station box at the airport station). Similarly, it's been designed in such a way that if the planned second terminal is built, an extension there can be implemented without needing to redo the current station.

 

[Haywain]

The stations currently have provision for an extra set of doors at each platform, which would take care of an initial train lengthening. However, if that isn't enough to provide additional capacity in the future the limitation of only two trains and the resulting frequency will be a bigger problem, especially with a longer run to a second terminal.

 

[edwin_m]

The stations currently have provision for an extra set of doors at each platform, which would take care of an initial train lengthening. However, if that isn't enough to provide additional capacity in the future the limitation of only two trains and the resulting frequency will be a bigger problem, especially with a longer run to a second terminal.

How often do the "trains" depart at busy times of day? The average wait would increase by at least 50% if another station was added, including when it's longer anyway because one of the two trains and tracks is under maintenance. This is where the types of peoplemover where trains can switch between tracks starts to win out over the simple cable-hauled versions like this one.

 

[Edvid]

The peak frequency (0600-0930, 1400-1800) is a train every five minutes.

 

[edwin_m]

The peak frequency (0600-0930, 1400-1800) is a train every five minutes.

Thanks for that. Strikes me as a bit low already, even without extension to a third station. I get the impression at Gatwick for example that you only have to wait a couple of minutes.

 

[Edvid]

The Gatwick shuttle is only three-fifths the length of Luton's, to put it in context.

 

[modernrail]

I tried the DART for the first time recently and was surprised by the ride quality - it seemed rough for brand new.

The ticket buying situation is very unclear. The instructions on the machines in the airport terminal are in double Dutch.

As for the flooring within the carriage - what were they thinking. It’s the lino we had in my 1960’s school classroom 25 years ago. Would pair well with some of the Gatwick Airport’s NHS blue and bad lino underfunded hospital vibe it has going on in several areas.

The wayfinding when you get off at Parkway is a mess as well.

All in all feels like several areas where there has been a lack of attention to detail.

 

[westcoaster]

Go ahead group have just posted on X (formally twitter), to say the 3 ex Luton shuttle bendy buses, have been donated to the war effort in Ukraine.
With one pictured.

Out of service at Luton Airport – next stop, Ukraine

www.go-ahead.com

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

I enjoyed my ride on the DART but it is disgraceful how it is being managed to deliberately rip off passengers, and non-English speakers in particular. Not a very nice welcome to our country, although likely representative of the rest of their stay!

Even thought there are still frequent buses to the airport at £2 each way, it is almost impossible to exit Parkway station - all roads lead to the DART.

Going the other way it is even worse - one operational EMR ticket machine (the second being out of order) with a massive queue. No staff to help passengers buy a ticket (as there are at Gatwick Airport) but absolutely loads of DART staff manning the gateline and answering all questions with "just scan your bank card to open the barriers". When they get to Parkway they will then find out they have to fork out again for a train ticket to their destination.

Given Luton is now a very busy airport, they should really have a wall of EMR ticket machines with some being assigned "London only" so passengers can simply and quickly buy their ticket to St Pancras rather than paying for the DART separately. And a member of staff on duty to assist people.

 

[Watershed]

I enjoyed my ride on the DART but it is disgraceful how it is being managed to deliberately rip off passengers, and non-English speakers in particular. Not a very nice welcome to our country, although likely representative of the rest of their stay!

Even thought there are still frequent buses to the airport at £2 each way, it is almost impossible to exit Parkway station - all roads lead to the DART.

Going the other way it is even worse - one operational EMR ticket machine (the second being out of order) with a massive queue. No staff to help passengers buy a ticket (as there are at Gatwick Airport) but absolutely loads of DART staff manning the gateline and answering all questions with "just scan your bank card to open the barriers". When they get to Parkway they will then find out they have to fork out again for a train ticket to their destination.

Given Luton is now a very busy airport, they should really have a wall of EMR ticket machines with some being assigned "London only" so passengers can simply and quickly buy their ticket to St Pancras rather than paying for the DART separately. And a member of staff on duty to assist people.

To be fair, most people aren't overpaying by paying separately for the DART and the train to London - the marginal cost of the DART add-on is generally priced the same as the standalone DART fare. Depending on when (or if) they're returning to Luton, using contactless for both may even be the cheapest option.

The real scandal is simply how much Luton Airport is charging people to use the DART.

 

[Trainfan344]

Luton Airport is an absolute shambles.

I'd much rather use Stansted for trips out of the country.

Look at how other countries charge for this type of thing though, Pisa has the PIS mover which is very expensive too.

 

[baz962]

I enjoyed my ride on the DART but it is disgraceful how it is being managed to deliberately rip off passengers, and non-English speakers in particular. Not a very nice welcome to our country, although likely representative of the rest of their stay!

Even thought there are still frequent buses to the airport at £2 each way, it is almost impossible to exit Parkway station - all roads lead to the DART.

Going the other way it is even worse - one operational EMR ticket machine (the second being out of order) with a massive queue. No staff to help passengers buy a ticket (as there are at Gatwick Airport) but absolutely loads of DART staff manning the gateline and answering all questions with "just scan your bank card to open the barriers". When they get to Parkway they will then find out they have to fork out again for a train ticket to their destination.

Given Luton is now a very busy airport, they should really have a wall of EMR ticket machines with some being assigned "London only" so passengers can simply and quickly buy their ticket to St Pancras rather than paying for the DART separately. And a member of staff on duty to assist people.

One issue with this. It's very easy to exit the station. Literally all the way downstairs and out of the gate line.

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

One issue with this. It's very easy to exit the station. Literally all the way downstairs and out of the gate line.

Yes I think I got a bit overexcited. Having said that, I've been to Parkway several times and on my first visit post-DART opening, I did find it difficult to work out where the exit was. This was partly due to lack of signage but mainly due to the down escalators being out of action. So I'm probably being a bit unfair.

 

[Bald Rick]

Go ahead group have just posted on X (formally twitter), to say the 3 ex Luton shuttle bendy buses, have been donated to the war effort in Ukraine.
With one pictured.

Out of service at Luton Airport – next stop, Ukraine

www.go-ahead.com

Good show. And still with the FCC Reg plate

Luton Airport is an absolute shambles.

I'd much rather use Stansted for trips out of the country.

Look at how other countries charge for this type of thing though, Pisa has the PIS mover which is very expensive too.

Opinions differ. I‘d rather crawl through broken glass than use Stansted, whilst I find Luton Airport an entirely satisfactory experience.

 

[jon0844]

When I saw the van saying Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership, my first thought was 'I didn't know Swindon was that in need of aid'...

Photo showing ex-First bendy bus and a white van with Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership sign on side.

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

When I saw the van saying Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership, my first thought was 'I didn't know Swindon was that in need of aid'...

Photo showing ex-First bendy bus and a white van with Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership sign on side.

As an Oxford United fan I'd beg to differ...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Luton Airport is an absolute shambles.

I'd much rather use Stansted for trips out of the country.

Look at how other countries charge for this type of thing though, Pisa has the PIS mover which is very expensive too.

As long as there are budget airlines who won't pay the going rate in their landing fees this sort of fee will be needed to keep the airports viable.

And no, Luton isn't a shambles. It's far better than Stansted in just about every way.

 

[Techniquest]

I'd offer an opinion on Luton vs Stansted, but that's going to be a long post and very off-topic.

I keep forgetting the DART exists, I must make an effort to go to Luton soon. Even EMR have been trying to encourage me to go there, with ads on YouTube recently of a friendly woman asking if I'm going to Luton and that it'll cost me just £10. I keep hitting 'skip ad' so I haven't seen/heard the rest yet.

Frustratingly, when you want an ad to come up it never does

 

[smjxm09]

Only 14.2% of airport passengers are using the Dart since it opened in March. The shuttle bus, which the Dart replaced carried 18%. The original target was around 32%, except I can’t find that document anymore.