LONDON'S FASTEST GROWING AIRPORT NEEDS A FAST RAIL SERVICE
London Luton Airport is London’s fastest growing airport. But the only one without an express style train service.
The government’s current consultation on the East Midlands route franchise offers a once in a decade opportunity to introduce an express style service by increasing the number of trains calling at Luton Airport Parkway from 1 to 4 per hour.
Through simple timetable change alone, there is an opportunity to delivering significant benefits to passengers and the UK economy.
Why we need four fast trains
Demand for air travel is at record levels and set to double by 2050, according to the Department for Transport. At London Luton Airport (LLA) we have seen over 40 months of consecutive passenger growth.
But the UK is fast running out of capacity to meet demand.
The Government is finalising plans for a third runway at Heathrow. While we wait another 10 to 15 years for its construction, regional airports such as LLA have a vital role to play in meeting demand.
It’s why we are currently undertaking the single biggest investment in our history to increase our annual capacity by 50% by 2020.
But the airport itself can only provide part of the solution. We can only reach our full potential if we are supported by better transport links.
Improving the rail connections to our airports is key to growing passenger numbers and getting as many airline passengers as possible to leave their cars at home. The East Midalnds refranchising is a big opportunity for Luton that should be looked at closely
Andy McDonald MP
Shadow secretary of state for Transport
The Transport Select Committee has identified rail links as a significant limiting factor for airports’ abilities to reach their full potential. Currently LLA has the lowest share of passengers using public transport of all UK airports and lacks the Express Service that other London airports have and which their communities benefit from.
The benefits of more fast trains
Independent analysis by rail experts North Star shows that four fast trains between St Pancras International and Luton Airport Parkway will deliver significant benefits to the region and UK.
It will:
- Create £110m new revenue for DfT – with no capital expenditure
- Make better use of existing air capacity in the period before a new Heathrow runway is built
- Enable more people easier access to a world class airport to meet growing passenger demand in the South East
- Accelerate economic growth in the UK and the Three Counties area
- Allow Luton Airport Parkway to become a rail hub to better connect North and South
- Encourage greater use of public transport - reducing local congestion and CO2 emissions
What we are calling for
We want to create an express style service with four fast trains per hour; making Luton Airport Parkway an end-to-end integrated transport hub for the benefit of the UK, the entire Three Counties region and bringing LLA in line with the other major London airports.
That’s why we are calling the Department for Transport to stipulate that four fast trains per hour must run between St Pancras International and Luton Airport Parkway as part of the new East Midlands Rail Franchise.
If you would like to have your say in the consultation, you can do so:
In writing:
East Midlands Rail Franchise
Consultation Co-ordinator
Zone 2/21
Department for Transport
Great Minister House
33 Horseferry Road
London SW1P 4DR
Online:
bit.ly/east-midlands-consultation
By e-mail:
[email protected]
The consultation closes on Wednesday 11
th October.
Downloads
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Rail Infographic
Size: 2064KB
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Maximising Opportunities for the next East Midlands Rail Franchise
Size: 1812KB
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LLA response to East Midlands Rail Franchise
Size: 378KB
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Endorsements
This report, its findings and conclusions have the support of:
