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Luton requests express train service
Luton has asked for an express rail service with four fast trains per hour between the airport and central London.
The borough council said its request to the Department for Transport reflects the recommendations of the Shaw Report, released last week, which asked for ‘greater local responsiveness’ in the rail network to bring it ‘closer to customers and local groups’.
Luton airport is currently served by just one fast train an hour and is the only major London airport without a dedicated express service.
In a report published earlier this month, Luton Borough Council highlighted the business case for securing more fast trains between Luton Airport Parkway station and London St Pancras, estimating that the move would catalyse a £26.5m per year economic boost for Luton.
Robin Porter, LBC’s director of commercial and transformation services, said that without the increase, Luton Airport will be at a ‘significant commercial disadvantage in comparison to the other London airports’.
The step up to four fast trains per hour will more than double the proportion of people travelling to the airport by public transport to over 30%, claims the council.
Luton saw passenger numbers grow by 16.9% in 2015 and is currently investing over £110million to increase capacity by 50% to 18 million passengers per year by 2020.
Airport CEO Nick Barton said: "The Shaw Report makes clear that customers must be at the heart of the decision-making process within the rail industry. Committing to four fast trains per hour to Luton Airport Parkway through the new EMT franchise agreement would fit exactly in line with this ambition.
"We are currently investing £110million to transform the airport, increasing annual capacity by 50% by 2020. Improving rail connectivity to Luton Airport Parkway station would be a great example of joined-up thinking on transport and make a significant contribution to easing the current air capacity constraints across London and the South East."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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