Future automated people mover in Luton, England
The Luton DART is an under-construction automated guided people mover (light metro) which will connect Luton Airport Parkway station and Luton Airport in England. DART is an acronym for Direct Air-Rail Transit. It is scheduled to open in 2022 and will replace the existing Shuttle Bus, relieving its roads in peak times and providing a higher capacity.[1]
History
In April 2016, Luton Airport's owner announced a proposal to connect the airport with Luton Airport Parkway station and the adjacent part of the town which is being upgraded via an automated guided people mover.[2]
The project involves construction of bridges over the A1081 road and tunnels, along with two/three stations. The plans see the first station built at Bartlett Square in Napier Park on the east side of Luton Airport Parkway station, and the final station at the airport. There is an option for a third station midway, beside the airport's Mid-Stay Car Park. The link was approved by Luton Borough Council in June 2017.[3][4] In April 2018, a VolkerFitzpatrick / Kier Group joint venture commenced construction work.[1][5] If Terminal 2 of the airport goes ahead, which requires central government approval, an additional DART station would be built there.[6]
In 2018, it was announced that the system would be a Cable Liner, manufactured by the Austrian transit manufacturer, Doppelmayr Cable Car (DCC), who also have a contract to operate the system for the first five years.[7] The vehicles will be built by the Austrian cabin manufacturer, Carvatech.[8]
In December 2019, a ready-constructed, 80-metre (260 ft)-long, 1,000-tonne curved bridge was moved into place over the A1081 road on large jacks.[9] Construction work on the line was halted briefly in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic over concerns related to Coronavirus Health Protection Regulations, but has since resumed after a safety assessment.[10] The cable propulsion system was completed in February 2020 and work has now begun to install the people mover vehicles on the guide rails.[11]
The system is scheduled to open in 2022.[12]
Examples of DCC transit systems similar to the Luton DART that are already operating worldwide
