Airport,

Awards double for the Luton Airport Express and Luton DART

The exceptional service for passengers choosing the Luton Airport Express and Luton DART to get to and from London Luton Airport has been recognised with two industry-leading honours.

At the National Transport Awards held at the Westminster Park Plaza on Thursday 3 October, the prize for Best Alliance / Collaboration of the Year was won jointly byEast Midlands Railway (EMR), London Luton Airport (LLA) and Luton Rising, the Luton Council company that owns the airport, for their collaboration to launch the Luton Airport Express.

The service delivers a fast rail connection between central London and London Luton Airport, achieving travel times of around half an hour, and facilitated by the Direct Air-Rail Transit introduced in March 2023 to transport passengers directly from Luton Airport Parkway train station to the airport terminal.

The Luton DART, which was built and is run by Luton Rising, operates in just four minutes, accommodating 170 passengers per trip and replacing the previous diesel bus service that took over 15 minutes.

At the Global Light Rail Awards held on London on Wednesday 2 October, Luton DART was also the winner of the Outstanding Engineering Achievement award, and was commended in the category for Project of the Year.

Cllr Javeria Hussain, Vice Chair of Luton Rising, said: “Customers choosing rail to get to and from our airport want to know that all the companies involved in their journey are collaborating closely to provide them with the most seamless experience possible. It’s very rewarding for that partnership working to be recognised.

“Together, the Luton Airport Express and Luton DART are offering one of the fastest connections to the capital of any UK airport, and driving a significant modal shift to rail compared to when the previous bus shuttle service was in operation.”

Alberto Martin, Chief Executive of London Luton Airport, said: “Enhancing connectivity and promoting sustainable travel are key to London Luton Airport’s plans for responsible growth and our focus on reducing the environmental impact of journeys to the airport.

“The Luton Airport Express, alongside the Luton DART, brings LLA even closer to central London, with a faster, more frequent and more convenient service that has transformed the appeal of rail as a sustainable travel option for passengers travelling to and from the airport. We are delighted that the collaborative approach to this project has been recognised in this way.” 

Jenna Cowie, Head of Revenue and Marketing at East Midlands Railway, said: “It’s great to be recognised alongside our partners in the project, London Luton Airport and Luton Rising. The Luton Airport Express has been a great success making the journey simpler for our customers and as a result increasing the number of journeys by more than 50 per cent since launch in March 2023, along with the new Luton DART shuttle service. Our collaborative approach has meant a joined-up, targeted strategy, enabling us to offer value for money, a fast service and convenient travel.

“In the first year following the launch, EMR reported a 52% increase in rail journeys, contributing to a rise in rail share from 14% to 16% as passengers opted for more sustainable travel options.”

The National Transport Awards celebrate remarkable accomplishments and acknowledge dedication, innovation, and efficiency within the UK transport industry.

Keynote speaker, the Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood MP, told 600 guests: “Transport workers are the backbone of our economy – helping to drive growth and connect communities nationwide.”

Contact Information

Luton Council Press Office
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01582 547402 (including out of hours)
pressoffice@luton.gov.uk