Work on Luton Airport’s automated people mover project begins

Work on the state-of-the-art £225 million Luton DART (Direct Air-Rail Transit), linking London Luton Airport with Luton Airport Parkway railway station, has officially begun.

The Luton DART will be a double-shuttle, fully-automated people-mover (APM) based on the latest system technology, capable of operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The cable-driven system is energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

The Luton DART’s journey time from Luton Airport Parkway railway station to the airport terminal will be easily under four minutes, with access from central London to the departure terminal in 30 minutes when using the fastest train.

Councillor Hazel Simmons, said: “This is another exciting landmark moment in the ongoing transformation of our town under the £1.5 billion Luton Investment Framework.

“The Luton DART will benefit not only airport passengers but also the people and businesses of Luton, supporting our ambitions to secure long-term economic growth and ensure local people have access to high-quality employment opportunities. We are all looking forward to the Luton DART opening in 2021.”

The project has received the correct planning permission from Luton and Central Bedfordshire councils and is scheduled to be ready for operation by spring 2021.

Councillor Andy Malcolm, said: “The Luton DART will support ongoing growth to 18 million passengers per year by 2021 and make sure the passenger experience provided is significantly enhanced.”

The 2.1km route will run between two purpose-built stations at Bartlett Square and the airport terminal, crossing a new gateway bridge over Airport Way. In peak time, a service will leave each station every four minutes.

Malcolm added: “This investment will encourage and transform the experience of those travelling to the airport by rail, thereby helping to reduce congestion on the roads. The journey time from St Pancras of less than 30 minutes will beat Liverpool Street to Stansted by 20 minutes and will be faster than Victoria to Gatwick too.”

Markus Schrentewein, Chief Executive Officer of Doppelmayr Cable Car, said: “Doppelmayr is excited to form another partnership within the UK. The Luton DART will be the second APM system built by Doppelmayr in the UK after the air-rail link at Birmingham International Airport.”