Transport in Luton
Luton is less than 50km (30 miles) north of the centre of London, with good links with the City and other parts of the country via the motorway network and the National Rail system. Luton is also home to London Luton Airport, one of the major feeder airports for London and the southeast. Luton is served by buses run by Arriva and other operators, and by a large number of taxis. As a Unitary Authority, Luton Borough Council is responsible for local highways and public transport in the Borough and the licensing of taxis.
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[edit] Road
Luton is connected to the the M1 motorway major arterial route, and with other major roads, the A6 and the A505.
The M1 connects with Luton at Junctions 10 and 11 to the south and west of the town, providing access to London and the North. The A6 starts in the town and travels north to Bedford and eventually the North West. The A6 previously extended south to Barnet, but this section has been re-numbered the A1081. The A505 provides connections east to Hitchin, the A1(M) and East Anglia; and west to Dunstable and the A5. In Luton the A505 forms a southerly ring road around the town, with the A5228 providing a more direct northerly bypass with the A505.
[edit] Rail
Luton is served by three railway stations on the Midland Main Line, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and Leagrave. First Capital Connect runs the high-frequency Thameslink route north to Bedford and south to Brighton via several central London stations; East Midlands Trains regional and intercity services run north to Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Sheffield, Leeds and other cities, and south to London St Pancras International.
There are plans to introduce 24-hour rail services to Luton and Luton Airport Parkway.[1] The Thameslink Programme will provide further links to southwards to Guildford, East Grinstead, Ashford, Dartford and the South Coast.[2]
[edit] Bus and coach services
Bus services in Luton are provided in the main by the national group Arriva,[3] through {[Arriva Shires & Essex#Arriva The Shires Ltd|Arriva The Shires Ltd]], based in Luton. Other significant local operators include Centrebus[4] and Grant Palmer.[5] Uno operates buses to the Hatfield campus of the University of Hertfordshire. Stagecoach runs services to Bedford through its Stagecoach in Bedford subsidiary, and operates the Virgin Trains Express Coach service VT99 from Luton Airport and Luton station to Milton Keynes Central. Regional and commuter coach services from Luton are operated by National Express, Marshall's Coaches[6] and Green Line Coaches.
[edit] Air
Luton Airport is 2 mi (3.2 km) from Junction 10a on the M1 and is the fourth-largest airport serving the London area, after Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, and is one of London's five international airports along with London City Airport. The airport is a hub for EasyJet, Monarch Airlines, Thomson Airways and Ryanair.[7] Most of the routes served are within Europe, with some charter airline routes to intercontinental destinations.
[edit] History
Luton and Leagrave stations were built by the Midland Railway in 1868 on its extension south from Bedford to St Pancras. The old Leagrave Midland station buildings still exist, having been restored in the 1980s. For some years Luton station was called Luton Midland Road to distinguish it from the earlier Luton Bute Street, built by the Luton, Dunstable and Welwyn Junction Railway Company in 1858, later part of the GNR. Bute Street was closed in 1965.
Construction of the first section of the M1 in 1959 meant that Luton being one of the first towns in the United Kingdom to be linked to the new motorway network.
The A5 road, which passes through nearby Dunstable, is on the route of the Watling Street, an ancient route of England.
Luton Airport was opened for passenger services at the end of World War II. Passenger numbers more than doubled from 1992 to 1998 when the growth of new low-cost flights rejuvenated the airport, and it was expanded in 1999 with a new terminal building and Luton Airport Parkway railway station was also opened.[8]
[edit] Recent developments
[edit] East Luton Corridor improvements scheme
In 2006 work started on widening the M1 past Luton and to the south, and on upgrading the access from the M1 to the airport, as part of the Local Transport Plan east Luton corridor improvement scheme.[9]
This scheme will provide dual-carriageway access to Luton Airport from the M1 and increased capacity at some junctions in the area. It aims to improve safety, reduce accidents, improve access to existing and potential development areas, improve access to and between public transport interchanges and public transport journey times and reliability, reduce congestion and improve reliability air quality and ease pedestrian/cycle crossing at junctions. Work started in 2008[10] and was completed in Spring 2009.[11] The cost was estimated at £22million in 2003.[12]
[edit] Current developments
[edit] Luton gateway
A new new multi-storey car park and railway footbridge are being built close to Luton station. The existing multi-storey car park was closed in 2008.[13]
This work is the first stage in the Gateway project, which includes building a new station ticket hall building, a new bus interchange and approximately 375 flats, a hotel, shops, restaurants and cafes.[14]
[edit] Proposed developments
[edit] Luton to Dunstable Busway
| Location | Central Bedfordshire, Luton |
|---|---|
| Proposer | Luton Borough Council |
| cost estimate | £83.5 million |
| completion date | 2012 |
| Geometry | KML |
The 'Luton to Dunstable Busway' (previously known as Translink)[15] is a guided busway presently under construction between Luton airport and Houghton Regis via Dunstable[16][17]. It is planned to open in 2012[18] at an expected cost of £83.5 million[19]. The busway will follow the Dunstable Branch Lines, which closed in 1989[20]
The scheme was opposed by parties that would rather see the re-instatement of heavy rail services along the branch, or by extending the Thameslink railway line farther afield.[21] Others put forward the view that light rail or trolleybuses were more appropriate for a high-speed link and for linking to a major airport[citation needed]. Supporters of the busway pointed out that no funding could be gained for the proposed alternatives, which would leave the link unused, and the guided bus had the advantages of flexibility and accessibility from local areas[citation needed].
George Osborne's Treasury has confirmed £80 million to be spent on this scheme.[22]
[edit] Luton town centre transport scheme
| Location | Luton |
|---|---|
| Proposer | Luton Borough Council |
| cost estimate | £26.9 million |
| start date | Before 2014 |
| Geometry | KML |
Luton town centre is planned to undergo redevelopment starting before 2014 at an expected cost of £26.9 million[23]. The development is intended to improve access to the railway station, which will become part of a new rail and bus interchange[24]. Part of the road route is not yet finalised, the two options under consideration are known as the "red route" and the "green route".[25] The Luton Town Centre development has been placed in the Pre-Qualification pool by the Department for Transport for securing funding. The scheme will need to be deemed one of the best 34 in the pre-qualification pool to make it to the qualification pool where it can compete for funding at the end of 2011.[26]
[edit] Luton Northern Bypass
| Location | Luton |
|---|---|
| Proposer | Luton Borough Council |
| cost estimate | £95 million |
| completion date | 2016 |
| Geometry | KML |
A northern bypass has been proposed, between the M1 and the A505[27], expected to be completed by 2016 at a cost of £95 million. At the M1 it will meet the proposed Dunstable Northern Bypass, resulting in a northern bypass for the whole Luton-Dunstable urban area. The easternmost section of bypass may follow the current edge of urban Luton, though the Luton and South Bedfordshire committee favours an outer route, further from the town[28].
Construction of the bypass is expected to benefit congestion, accessibility and air quality in Luton but have an adverse effect on the landscape, biodiversity and possible archaeological sites[29].
[edit] M1 Junction 10A
| Location | Luton |
|---|---|
| Proposer | Luton Borough Council |
| Status | apiration |
| Type | road |
| Geometry | KML |
Plans are being developed to make major changes to M1 Junction 10A, at the end of the Luton spur from the main M1, to relieve congestion which has increased since the completion of the Luton East Corridor. An exhibition of options was held in September 2009[30]. At this exhibition it was revealed that Luton Borough Council plan to implement a three roundabout interchange area for traffic
[edit] References
- ^ First Capital plans
- ^ Network Rail (2006-10-18). "Map of expanded Thameslink route". http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/imagelibrary/detail.asp?MediaDetailsID=385. Retrieved 28 November 2006.[dead link]
- ^ "Passenger services" (PDF). http://www.luton.gov.uk/Media%20Library/Pdf/Environment%20%26%20regeneration/Engineering%20%26%20Transportation%20/Passenger%20Transport/Luton%20%26%20Dunstable%20PT%20Guide.pdf. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ "Centre Bus". Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080510103056/http://www.centrebus.co.uk/Herts&BedsTowns/MapIndex/MapIndex.htm. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ "Grant Palmer". http://www.grantpalmer.com/Passenger_Services/index.htm. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ "Marshalls Coaches". http://www.marshalls-coaches.co.uk/. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ "Key Facts". London Luton Airport. http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/content/4/214/key-facts.html. Retrieved 16 July 2007.
- ^ History "Luton Airport History". Luton Airport Website. http://www.luton-airport-guide.co.uk/history.html History. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ Widening of the M1
- ^ "Lord McKenzie opens East Luton Corridor". http://www.businessmk.co.uk/news/art/582/Lord-McKenzie-opens-East-Luton-Corridor.html.
- ^ "Roadworks information". http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/transport_and_streets/transport_planning/projects/east%20luton%20corridor%20%28elc%29/roadworks/roadworks%20information%20latest.
- ^ "agendas.luton.gov.uk Doc3". http://agendas.luton.gov.uk/cmiswebpublic/Binary.ashx?Document=3471.
- ^ "Luton's bus station car park set to close this week". http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/Luton39s-bus-station-car-park.3799137.jp.
- ^ "Gateway to the future". http://www.thinkluton.co.uk/think_news/article6.html.
- ^ "Luton Dunstable Busway – news update". Luton Council. http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/transport_and_streets/engineering%20&%20transportation/Translink%20project.
- ^ "Luton-Dunstable Busway". Luton Borough Council. 2008.02. http://www.luton.gov.uk/Media%20Library/Pdf/Environment%20&%20regeneration/Engineering%20&%20Transportation%20/busway/LDB%20Business%20Case%20-%20Main%20Report.pdf. Retrieved 15 July 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Luton Dunstable Translink Decision Letter". Department for Transport. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/twa/dl/lutondunstabletranslinkdecis1031?page=1.
- ^ "Luton Dunstable Busway". http://www.luton.gov.uk/busway/.
- ^ "Case Study: Luton Dunstable Busway". http://www.mksm.org.uk/luton-a-south-beds/case-studies-luton/124-luton-dunstable-busway-.
- ^ Faber Maunsell environmental impact study of the Translink proposal
- ^ "Department for Transport Luton Dunstable Translink Inspectors' Report Section 5". http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/twa/ir/lutondunstabletranslinkinspe1032?page=1.
- ^ "Green light for 12 major transport schemes". LGC. http://www.lgcplus.com/briefings/services/transport/green-light-for-12-major-transport-schemes/5016150.article. Retrieved 13-July-2010.
- ^ "East of England – Committed schemes". East of England Regional Assembly. 30 January 2009. http://www.eera.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAyADMAOQA0AHwAfABGAGEAbABzAGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ "Luton town centre transport scheme". Luton Borough Council. http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/Transport_and_streets/Transport_planning/Luton%20Town%20Centre%20Transport%20Scheme. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ "Luton Town Centre Transport Scheme – Comparison of Options". Luton Borough Council. http://www.luton.gov.uk/media%20library/pdf/chief%20executives/consultation%20/maps/luton%20town%20transport%20scheme/board%206%20comparison%20of%20options%20(%201%20of%202).pdf. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ Local Transport Today, Issue 557, Page 7
- ^ "Luton Northern Bypass". Luton Borough Council. http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/Transport_and_streets/Transport_planning/Luton%20Northern%20Bypass. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ "Major Transport Schemes Update". http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/modgov/Published/C00000636/M00003133/AI00016473/$Item14MajorTransportSchemes.docA.ps.pdf. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ "North Dunstable and North Luton Consultation". Luton Borough Council. http://www.luton.gov.uk/media%20library/pdf/environment%20&%20regeneration/engineering%20&%20transportation%20/north%20dunstable%20and%20luton%20consultation%20leaflet.pdf. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ "All change at 10A?". http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2009/07/09/junction_10_changes_feature.shtml.
