Arriva Green Line 757 to stop serving Luton Airport

[gage75]

Given a couple of other local services were withdrawn from the airport when the A was introduced I'd expect it to survive (although not sure about the frequency or the overnight service).

Having spoken to the Gentleman conducting Greenline services at Luton Airport the 60 & 321 were withdrawn from the airport by Arriva to allow the 'A' service to run in their stead, personally I would curtail the 'A' at Luton Rail Interchange as this would reduce double running of 'A' & 757 allowing a better turn around and reduce costs, and confusion also freeing up what little space there is at the Airport Interchange, as when I was there yesterday morning for connection to the 99 to MK, the 757 was using their stop so the 99 had go to stop 6 and can not see that NX would tolerate that for long

 

[Deerfold]

Having spoken to the Gentleman conducting Greenline services at Luton Airport the 60 & 321 were withdrawn from the airport by Arriva to allow the 'A' service to run in their stead, personally I would curtail the 'A' at Luton Rail Interchange as this would reduce double running of 'A' & 757 allowing a better turn around and reduce costs, and confusion also freeing up what little space there is at the Airport Interchange,

It would seem a shame not to use the nice new busway though.

 

[gage75]

Would still use the busway for the 'A' maybe just connect at the Rail Interchange for the 757 services beyond Luton (commuter belt)

 

[Deerfold]

Would still use the busway for the 'A' maybe just connect at the Rail Interchange for the 757 services beyond Luton (commuter belt)

I'm not quite sure what you're saying here. Who'd need to change? For either those going from Luton to London or Luton Airport to London I suspect a change would put off potential passengers (especially now the 757 is only half-hourly at the moment).

 

[Tetchytyke]

I don't think you can blame NX particularly for trying. The monopoly was the airport's idea - at the expense of Arriva (they could either lose the route or pay through the nose...)

Every single one of the operators- NX, Arriva and Terravision- insisted on exclusivity. The only difference between the bids was the amount of money each company was prepared to pay Luton Airport for that exclusive contract.

Arriva The Shires were making £3m a year off the route, so NX's offer was high but not unsustainably so.

For now the contract will be frustrated, as Luton Airport cannot offer the contractual exclusivity. I imagine Luton Airport will re-issue the tender/auction at some point, and they'll be a bit more careful next time.

It's clear the exemptions for EasyBus were the real problem with the way the tender/auction was conducted.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Would still use the busway for the 'A' maybe just connect at the Rail Interchange for the 757 services beyond Luton (commuter belt)

That's the situation Arriva The Shires went to court to prevent.

 

[PG]

Interestingly (and worryingly) TransportDirect seem to be only offering easyBus and NX services for bus/coach journeys from the airport to London.
eg searching for a bus/coach trip from the airport to Baker St tube leaving 0355 tomorrow gives departures at:

0415 (easyBus) arrive 0515
0430 (NX) arrive 0517
​

however the 757 has an 0405 departure which arrives at 0500.

Hopefully this will change soon and it's just a case of TD not using the new 757 timetable.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Mentioned upthread that new coaches are coming for 757, what are these?

 

[Deerfold]

Interestingly (and worryingly) TransportDirect seem to be only offering easyBus and NX services for bus/coach journeys from the airport to London.
eg searching for a bus/coach trip from the airport to Baker St tube leaving 0355 tomorrow gives departures at:

0415 (easyBus) arrive 0515
0430 (NX) arrive 0517
​

however the 757 has an 0405 departure which arrives at 0500.

Hopefully this will change soon and it's just a case of TD not using the new 757 timetable.

It's all been done at short notice so I'd assume TD hasn't managed to update yet.

 

[Tetchytyke]

It's because the data was submitted too late for this week. Traveline South East explain it and direct you to the GreenLine website, and they are showing the 757 using the old stop near (presumably) a Vauxhall garage on the airport perimeter.

Transport Direct really is rubbish, isn't it?

 

[starrymarkb]

It's because the data was submitted too late for this week. Traveline South East explain it and direct you to the GreenLine website, and they are showing the 757 using the old stop near (presumably) a Vauxhall garage on the airport perimeter.

Transport Direct really is rubbish, isn't it?

Traveline usually updates on a Thursday Morning, Greenline announced they were going back on Friday, so hopefully it'll be in the Traveline systems some point during the early hours of the 6th

 

[PG]

It's because the data was submitted too late for this week. Traveline South East explain it and direct you to the GreenLine website, and they are showing the 757 using the old stop near (presumably) a Vauxhall garage on the airport perimeter.

Transport Direct really is rubbish, isn't it?

Can't seem to find an entry in N&P to vary the registration - odd?

The latest entry appears to be in N&P 2286

PF0000508/488 ARRIVA THE SHIRES LTD T/A ARRIVA THE SHIRES & ESSEX, CENTRAL ENGINEERING DEPT, 487 DUNSTABLE ROAD , LUTON LU4 8DS Operating between Luton, Waller Avenue/Luton, Crawley Green Road and M1,GLA Boundary given service number 757 effective from 25-Sep-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

 

[34D]

Traveline usually updates on a Thursday Morning, Greenline announced they were going back on Friday, so hopefully it'll be in the Traveline systems some point during the early hours of the 6th

They both pick up their data from the Naptan system, so it will all filter through presently.

 

[PG]

TransportDirect seem to be only offering easyBus and NX services for bus/coach journeys from the airport to London.
eg searching for a bus/coach trip from the airport to Baker St tube leaving 0355 tomorrow gives departures at:

0415 (easyBus) arrive 0515
0430 (NX) arrive 0517
​

however the 757 has an 0405 departure which arrives at 0500.

Traveline usually updates on a Thursday Morning, Greenline announced they were going back on Friday, so hopefully it'll be in the Traveline systems some point during the early hours of the 6th

Repeating the same search now lists the Greenline 757 as the first result