A certain railway test-running for March opening
Jan 23, 2022 9:14:22 GMT
T.R., routew15, and 2 more like this
Post by wirewiper on Jan 23, 2022 9:14:22 GMT
No, not THAT railway!
It's the Luton Airport DART (Direct Air Rail Transit), the automated shuttle train that will link Luton Airport Parkway station directly with the Airport Terminal, a distance of one-and-a-half miles. The system has two parallel tracks (like the people mover between the South and North Terminals at Gatwick Airport) and the driverless trains will operate up to every four minutes. A fare of £2.40 each way will be charged, although passengers can also buy through rail tickets to and from Luton Airport with the DART included.
The Luton Airport Parkway terminal sits alongside the rail station, which has been upgraded with a new footbridge and lifts connecting directly into the DART terminal. The line crosses over the A1081 airport access road and tunnels under the airport runway before arriving directly at the Airport Terminal. The journey takes four minutes.
Test running is now taking place. No firm date has been set for the public opening, but it is expected to be "around March". It will mean the end of the shuttle bus service, which used to be operated by First Capital Connect but since 2013, when GoVia Thameslink took over, by Go-Ahead London. GAL still uses the purple Volvo B7L/Wright articulated buses with Select Registrations which originally stared life with First in Bristol. In the past the route has been home to the highly unusual articulated Wright StreetCar, a couple of examples coming down from York after the ftr project was axed. The StreetCar is the forerunner of the Glider which is now in service in Belfast.
Wright Streetcar in York (not my photo): flic.kr/p/9rmZPK
Wright Streetcar on Luton Airport Shuttle (not my photo): flic.kr/p/26Y3XQi
It's the Luton Airport DART (Direct Air Rail Transit), the automated shuttle train that will link Luton Airport Parkway station directly with the Airport Terminal, a distance of one-and-a-half miles. The system has two parallel tracks (like the people mover between the South and North Terminals at Gatwick Airport) and the driverless trains will operate up to every four minutes. A fare of £2.40 each way will be charged, although passengers can also buy through rail tickets to and from Luton Airport with the DART included.
The Luton Airport Parkway terminal sits alongside the rail station, which has been upgraded with a new footbridge and lifts connecting directly into the DART terminal. The line crosses over the A1081 airport access road and tunnels under the airport runway before arriving directly at the Airport Terminal. The journey takes four minutes.
Test running is now taking place. No firm date has been set for the public opening, but it is expected to be "around March". It will mean the end of the shuttle bus service, which used to be operated by First Capital Connect but since 2013, when GoVia Thameslink took over, by Go-Ahead London. GAL still uses the purple Volvo B7L/Wright articulated buses with Select Registrations which originally stared life with First in Bristol. In the past the route has been home to the highly unusual articulated Wright StreetCar, a couple of examples coming down from York after the ftr project was axed. The StreetCar is the forerunner of the Glider which is now in service in Belfast.
Wright Streetcar in York (not my photo): flic.kr/p/9rmZPK
Wright Streetcar on Luton Airport Shuttle (not my photo): flic.kr/p/26Y3XQi
