Luton Rising and Luton Council have confirmed that the Luton Direct Air-Rail Transit (DART) will start carrying its first passengers on Friday 10 March.
During a three-week period, passengers travelling between Luton Airport Parkway Station and London Luton Airport (LTN) will be able to experience the service for the first time on a restricted timetable, operating for around four hours each day.
Luton DART is then expected to open for full 24-hour commercial operations at the end of the month.
Cllr Javeria Hussain, Chair of Luton Rising, said:The Luton DART will provide a world-class and seamless transfer between Luton Airport Parkway railway station and the London Luton Airport terminal, enabling passengers travelling from London St Pancras to be at the airport in as little as 32 minutes on the fastest trains at peak times.
The automated people mover (APM) will connect the airport terminal with the mainline railway at Luton Airport Parkway in just over three minutes.
As the system is cable-drawn and electrically-powered, its introduction will support Luton Airport’s sustainable growth by reducing the environmental impact of passenger transport and the congestion on surrounding roads.
This project will also help improve London Luton Airport’s competitive position within the London aviation network.
Cllr Hazel Simmons MBE, Leader of Luton Council, said:The Luton DART is one of the biggest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Luton and promises to put our town and our airport firmly on the map for all the right reasons. Electrically-powered, energy-efficient, and future-proofed to support sustainable growth of the airport, it is a vital sign of our commitment to encourage more passengers to take the train rather than individual car journeys to and from our airport.
