Luton DART and Luton Airport Parkway Updates

[Amos]

I am assuming it was a test run,but I saw one of them running this morning.Looked impressive.

 

[Bald Rick]

I am assuming it was a test run,but I saw one of them running this morning.Looked impressive.

I saw one running 16 months ago!

 

[busestrains]

Might stick with Arriva at that price!

I will too. The £4.90 Single price is far too expensive. I have always found the Arriva option to be quite good. The buses are frequent and cheap. It is a shame more people are not aware of this Arriva option.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I saw one running 16 months ago!

Given this was a tried and tested technology be interesting to know why its proving difficult to get it into commission.

 

[Haywain]

Given this was a tried and tested technology be interesting to know why its proving difficult to get it into commission.

Because the building works were not complete and still aren’t.

 

[JaJaWa]

If anyone has dreamed of being an onboard announcer (and is "a resident of Luton"), now's your chance...

Could YOU be the voice of the new Luton DART? – Luton Rising

lutonrising.org.uk

Voice of the DART Competition

Luton Rising seeks to engage and motivate the local community by having them enter the voice of the DART competition for the chance to be the voice on the light railway and in the parkway station. Submissions from any age group resident in the Luton area may enter the competition. The winning entry will become the voice of the DART and feature not only in the station but across our social media channels. 10 finalists will be chosen from all entries and will be promoted across Luton Rising social media channels with the winning entry published in the local media and across social media.

Preparing your entry
• Your submission should be in your original voice and not distorted by technology aids.
• Record the following script on a smartphone by voicenote or video and send in via WhatsApp to our dedicated phone line: 07355 028 985. The sentence you need to submit is as follows:
“This shuttle terminates here, all alight please. Remember to take all personal belongings with you as you leave the shuttle.”
• If you do not have access to WhatsApp, recordings can also be submitted via email to info@lutonrising.org.uk

Number of Entries
You may submit one entry per individual.

Information Required
On submission of your recording, you will receive an automatically generated message from WhatsApp requesting you confirm your submission by completing a short form with the following information:
• Name
• Age Bracket
• Luton Postcode
• Ethnicity
• Religion
• School name, if applicable
• If you are under 16, confirmation that your parent or guardian has given you permission to enter the competition

The Closing Date
The closing date for receipt of entries is Friday, 18 November 2022.

Judging Process
The judging process is carried out by a panel of independent judges. The judging panel for our Luton Rising Voice of the DART competition includes:-
• Orlagh Ennis, LR representative
• Emma Parkins, LR representative
• Rosie Copperwheat, LR representative
• TBC, The Mall – local Luton representative
• TBC, Doppelmayr representative

Quick Checklist - Rules of entry
1. To enter, you must be resident in Luton, England
2. You may enter only once. Only individual entries will be accepted.
3. Your entry should be submitted as a voice note or video via WhatsApp to 07355 028 985. If you do not have access to WhatsApp, recordings can also be submitted via email to info@lutonrising.org.uk
4. Submission of your entry confirms that you are happy for us to use your video or recording for promotional purposes throughout the competition
5. The closing date for entries to the Voice of the DART Competition is 5pm on Friday, 18 November 2022. This date is final. If your entry is received after this date it will not be submitted to the judges.
6. Your entry must be original and use of technology aids is not permitted. If at any time, there is a challenge either to the originality of your entry or on the basis that your voice has been digitally altered, Luton Rising shall take reasonable steps to investigate the circumstances giving rise to the challenge. Luton Rising will then make a reasonably grounded determination as to whether to uphold the challenge, and Luton Rising’s decision on this matter will be final.
7. If your entry reaches the final judging stage, you may be asked to submit your proof of address.
8. The Judging Panel is responsible for the short listing and announcing the winner and the decision of the Chairman of the Judging Panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding that decision.
9. All entries shall be the property of Luton Rising, who will hold the recordings until 01 June 2023, at which point they will all be deleted or destroyed.
10. All entries together with the entrant’s details (name, age, suburb) may be used in publicity campaigns (such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and other materials) throughout the competition. Photographs of the winner together with their name and age may be used in publicity campaigns. Where the winner is under 16, consent will be sought from the parents or guardians of the winner.
11. The rules of the Competition may not be changed or modified and will strictly be applied.
12. All personal information supplied will be used by Luton Rising solely for the administration and management of the Luton Rising Voice of the DART Competition.
13. At any time, an individual can make a written request to Luton Rising to have access to all personal information that Luton Rising holds about them. An individual may inform Luton Rising of any changes in their data by contacting Luton Rising at info@lutonrising.org.uk; then Luton Rising will update or delete the data held. It is the responsibility of the individual to tell Luton Rising when information that it has provided is out of date or needs to be amended.

THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE COMPETITION IS
5pm on Friday, 18 November 2022

All entries should be sent to:

WhatsApp on 07355 028 985
Email on info@lutonrising.org.uk

 

[stuu]

Surely Lorraine Chase is the only option? (one for the younger members to look up)

 

[LalRattyMember]

Surely Lorraine Chase is the only option? (one for the younger members to look up)

Is this Luton Airport Parkway station? Naaaaaahhhhh, Luton Airport

 

[Cdd89]

I was looking at the DART building (or what I could see if it) today, and think I have observed the layout as follows:

• A gateline at the entrance from platform 1
• An open exit to Kimpton Road on the ground floor (in other words, the gate line on platform 1 leads ‘outside’, and presumably belongs to the NR station)
• A further, large (8x?) ‘upper gate line’ on the upper floor, which the escalators from the open area lead to. I presume this also belongs to the NR station and is intended as the primary station exit / DART station entrance from the new escalators and overbridge.
• An entrance from the old overbridge which enters ’inside’ the upper gate line - there may be a further gate line here or flow system leading people back behind the gate line, but I couldn’t see.
• ”Buy tickets” signage visible inside the upper gate line, which leads me to conclude that both gate lines belong to the NR station and the DART is subject to other ticketing arrangements.
• No sign of any further gate lines, which leads me to suspect that the DART is likely enforced with a single gate line at the airport end.

I’ve attached some images of the above.


I walked from Luton Airport to Luton Airport Parkway today, and while not far at all in distance, it is very unpleasant/confusing and feels unsafe - you have to cross multiple dual carriageways with fast-moving traffic, and walk on very narrow pavements (and a few verges). I know most people will choose the bus but it is poor not to have a reasonably maintained pedestrian route.

 

[edwin_m]

I walked from Luton Airport to Luton Airport Parkway today, and while not far at all in distance, it is very unpleasant/confusing and feels unsafe - you have to cross multiple dual carriageways with fast-moving traffic, and walk on very narrow pavements (and a few verges). I know most people will choose the bus but it is poor not to have a reasonably maintained pedestrian route.

Did you go via Airport Way (presumably the "old road" predating the dual carriageway) and Kimpton Road? I went that way in 2018 when DART construction was just starting, and it didn't seem too bad. Would be a bit hard going the other way with a heavy case though!

 

[Backroom_boy]

Did you go via Airport Way (presumably the "old road" predating the dual carriageway) and Kimpton Road? I went that way in 2018 when DART construction was just starting, and it didn't seem too bad. Would be a bit hard going the other way with a heavy case though!

Airports do have an aversion to being accessed on foot; tried it for an hour at Heathrow once (was staying at a perimeter hotel) before being told there was no public foot access. Maybe a security feature?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Airports do have an aversion to being accessed on foot; tried it for an hour at Heathrow once (was staying at a perimeter hotel) before being told there was no public foot access. Maybe a security feature?

In Heathrow's case it's because the foot tunnel was repurposed for road traffic, I believe. T4 and T5 have foot access. I'm not aware of other UK airports that don't.

 

[Backroom_boy]

In Heathrow's case it's because the foot tunnel was repurposed for road traffic, I believe. T4 and T5 have foot access. I'm not aware of other UK airports that don't.

Oh OK. And it was probably only 30 minutes that I spent

 

[johncrossley]

In Heathrow's case it's because the foot tunnel was repurposed for road traffic, I believe. T4 and T5 have foot access. I'm not aware of other UK airports that don't.

See this thread, regarding Edinburgh airport

Edinburgh airport - no pedestrian access?

On most buses and the tram to Edinburgh airport, it costs a lot more to the airport compared to Ingliston Park & Ride. If you try to walk from the Park & Ride bus stop, you pass a sign saying "No pedestrian access to airport". Is it actually forbidden to walk to the airport?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[swt_passenger]

Airports do have an aversion to being accessed on foot; tried it for an hour at Heathrow once (was staying at a perimeter hotel) before being told there was no public foot access. Maybe a security feature?

At Heathrow there were originally pedestrian and cycle tunnels available, alongside the main tunnel. But they changed them to car tunnels quite a long time back, to increase traffic capacity, and at the same time put up no pedestrian signs. I think in that case limiting pedestrians was more about road safety practicalities than security.

 

[edwin_m]

At Heathrow there were originally pedestrian and cycle tunnels available, alongside the main tunnel. But they changed them to car tunnels quite a long time back, to increase traffic capacity, and at the same time put up no pedestrian signs. I think in that case limiting pedestrians was more about road safety practicalities than security.

I can't think of a good reason why a person on foot could be more of a security hazard than someone in a vehicle.

 

[Bletchleyite]

See this thread, regarding Edinburgh airport

Edinburgh airport - no pedestrian access?

On most buses and the tram to Edinburgh airport, it costs a lot more to the airport compared to Ingliston Park & Ride. If you try to walk from the Park & Ride bus stop, you pass a sign saying "No pedestrian access to airport". Is it actually forbidden to walk to the airport?

www.railforums.co.uk

That's one specific route as the road has no pavement, if you read the thread. You can walk into the airport other ways, and some of the staff no doubt do.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Nov 2022 ==

At Heathrow there were originally pedestrian and cycle tunnels available, alongside the main tunnel. But they changed them to car tunnels quite a long time back, to increase traffic capacity, and at the same time put up no pedestrian signs. I think in that case limiting pedestrians was more about road safety practicalities than security.

It was indeed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Nov 2022 ==

I can't think of a good reason why a person on foot could be more of a security hazard than someone in a vehicle.

They're not.

 

[Techniquest]

High time good pedestrian access was reinstated somewhere then, in an age of promoting sustainable transport those of us who want to walk should have the option. If I'm only taking a small bag then Luton Airport Parkway to Luton Airport would be quite a reasonable walk. Unless it was raining, or there were ice/snow conditions, I'd almost certainly give the legs a good bit of exercise! Similar for Heathrow, it's not that far from Hayes & Harlington and I've already done the walk as far as the perimeter road. I was pleasantly surprised how short a walk it is!

Of course, when this new link opens I'll certainly be trying it out!

 

[johncrossley]

I've walked to the airport from Hunts Cross station, which was a no-brainer when coming from Manchester especially before Liverpool South Parkway opened. I've also walked to the airport from Paisley Gilmour Street.

 

[Techniquest]

I've walked to the airport from Hunts Cross station, which was a no-brainer when coming from Manchester especially before Liverpool South Parkway opened. I've also walked to the airport from Paisley Gilmour Street.

Interesting, I've never considered either walk previously but I like the idea. Thanks!

 

[102 fan]

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

 

[LalRattyMember]

The project website is still reporting " The announcement of an official opening date for the pioneering Luton DART infrastructure project will be made in early 2023. ", so it appears not.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Dec 2022 ==

I see the King is popping along to have a look at the DART on Tuesday. Hopefully we'll see some more photos/video after that.

 

[pdeaves]

Opening moves ever closer. https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/king-charles-rides-the-luton-dart/ reports 'King Charles rides the Luton DART' (article dated 11 December). Article still quotes "The opening date will be announced in 2023." Clearly, it works so I would hope nothing untoward crops up.

 

[Haywain]

Opening moves ever closer. https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/king-charles-rides-the-luton-dart/ reports 'King Charles rides the Luton DART' (article dated 11 December). Article still quotes "The opening date will be announced in 2023." Clearly, it works so I would hope nothing untoward crops up.

I believe that whilst nothing is being said publicly, the hold up is to do with the facilities at one end, if not both.

 

[Basil Jet]

It's hard to believe a nearly horizontal lift is important enough for a King to ride on. Unless he's an enthusiast and specially requested a go!

 

[pdeaves]

On a different note, is anyone able to describe (or put a marker on Google Maps or similar) where the airport end terminus is, please? Thanks!

 

[gravitystorm]

On a different note, is anyone able to describe (or put a marker on Google Maps or similar) where the airport end terminus is, please? Thanks!

You can see the alignment and the position of the stations on OpenStreetMap - https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=17/51.87790/-0.37330

 

[pdeaves]

You can see the alignment and the position of the stations on OpenStreetMap - https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=17/51.87790/-0.37330

Magic, thanks.

 

[Techniquest]

You can see the alignment and the position of the stations on OpenStreetMap - https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=17/51.87790/-0.37330

Thanks, that was appreciated by me too, I'm planning some European adventures again and this may well swing it in favour of easyJet!

 

[Ladder23]

Have seen this working a couple of times lately in darkness and it looks really good, be interesting to see it publicly working