News

SOUTH AFRICA: The Gautrain Management Agency has completed and submitted a feasibility study on the extension of the Gautrain rail network. The study has been submitted to Provincial and National Treasuries and to major stakeholders that were consulted during the feasibility process.

The feasibility study concludes that the extension of the Gautrain rail network will provide significant economic and transport related benefits to the province and the country at large; that it offers value for money, and appropriate risk transfer if procured as a Public-Private Partnership.

Demand modelling was done to determine transport needs for Gauteng in 2025 and 2037. Through the modelling process it became clear that the ‘cost of doing nothing’ in the province will lead to major road congestion in 2037, at which stage cars will travel at an average of 15 kilometres an hour due to doubling of car growth.

The feasibility study identified the following main links and stations of the Gautrain rail network extensions:

• On the link between Jabulani via Cosmo City and Samrand to Mamelodi, stations include Roodepoort, Little Falls, Fourways, Sunninghill, Olievenhoutsbosch, Irene, Tshwane East and Hazeldean.
• The link between Sandton and Cosmo City has a station at Randburg.
• On the link between Rhodesfield and Boksburg there will be a station at East Rand Mall and possible link-up with the OR Tambo International Airport Midfield terminal development.
• A future link from Cosmo City to Lanseria Airport.

Due to the magnitude and complexity of the project, it will be split into five phases.

“This expansion will primarily be done on a public-private partnership basis, in phases that will take a period of two decades (20 years) to complete,” Premier David Makhura said during his State of the Province Address.

The Gauteng provincial government is aware that a project of this magnitude will require significant funding from various sources. In order to address affordability issues an engagement with the national government is required. This will be facilitated by the national Department of Transport.

INTERVIEW: Currently 80 East Midlands train services pass through Luton Airport Parkway (LAP) in each direction every day, with a total of just 18 stopping there. London Luton Airport (LLA) is advocating for the inclusion of four fast trains per hour from central London to Luton Airport Parkway as part of the upcoming East Midlands Trains refranchising process.

The Government is due to announce a public consultation on the East Midlands Trains franchise shortly. The current franchise is a Direct Award to East Midlands Trains Limited, which commenced on 18 October 2015. It is due to end on 4 March 2018, although the Secretary of State may extend it by up to a year. The new franchise is scheduled to commence in 2018.

On 1st of March the Department for Transport has announced that the following companies have successfully pre-qualified to bid in the competition for the East Midlands franchise, to run rail passenger services from November 2018:

• Arriva Rail East Midlands Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arriva UK Trains Limited
• First Trenitalia East Midlands Rail Limited, a joint venture company wholly owned by First Rail Holdings Limited and Trenitalia UK Limited
• Stagecoach East Midlands Trains Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stagecoach Transport Holdings Limited

Last year LLA released independent economic analysis showing that increasing the number of hourly fast trains to LAP from one to four through timetable change could significantly increase rail revenue up to £110 million at no cost to the rail operator or DfT, and could almost double the number of passengers travelling by train to the airport; reducing local traffic congestion by 70,000 journeys and saving 500 tonnes of CO2.

We speak with London Luton Airport CEO Nick Barton about the current stage of the proposals.

Where are you in the discussions regarding the franchise? Do you see your conversations progressing towards a positive outcome?

While waiting for the consultation to be announced, we have continued to build our case and engage with stakeholders. I am happy to say that the initial reaction is overwhelmingly positive, as our proposed timetable change will improve not only the connectivity but also the overall economic impact of the airport.

We’ve been meeting key stakeholders, organisations and individuals up and down the rail line. These conversations were extremely useful, highlighting issues that we could address to make our case even stronger. These included questions about the effect on the wider network, future connectivity and payment systems such as the Oyster card.

What is the biggest challenge you came across in your conversations?

Our biggest challenge is still ahead of us and it is to change the thinking of the railway industry. I understand that our issue is very focused and the people we are talking to have a plethora of issues to consider. The Department for Transport has been extremely helpful in listening, understanding and supporting us in communicating our plans to stakeholders.

In 2015 you have successfully launched hourly night train services to London Luton Airport. How will the fast trains complement this and other rail services available at the Luton Airport Parkway station?

The night service is very valuable offering the ten thousand people who work at the airport, and 2-3 million more passengers, a viable option to use rail to get to and from the airport.

The existing Govia Thameslink Railway stopping service travels through London to the South Coast and offers unique access to different markets. The Farringdon connection will become increasingly important, opening up East-West traffic via the newly created Elizabeth Line. These are all excellent improvements to our connectivity.

These additional services, as good as they are, still stop at intermediate stations and take about 40 minutes to travel to/from the airport. This is great for some passengers and employees, but for many people, especially foreign travellers, the expectation is to see direct non-stop rail services to and from the airport.

That is what the new fast trains on the East Midlands line will offer. It will be a very regular service, operating every 15 minutes in both directions. It will effectively act as an ‘express’-style rail service, similar to those already in operation to and from Heathrow and Gatwick. We’re currently the only major London airport without such a service, which is something we need to change.

What would you say to airports who are reluctant to introduce rail connections in fear of losing car parking revenue?

A growing airport with a well-balanced ground access network and different travel options is far better than an airport with a vast car park. Such an airport would struggle to get national support for growth, as access would be too focused on one mode of transport. Rail is one of the best ways to accommodate the passenger demands associated with a busy airport, offering an efficient means of access and reducing congestion on the roads. We also know that poor rail links can be a disincentive to passengers – for example, the introduction of overnight train services to LAP made rail a viable option for an additional 2-3 million passengers, giving them choice and flexibility.

Currently the airport terminals are connected to the railway station by a shuttle bus, but there are plans to build a people mover to improve this link. Where are you at with this project?

The airport owners have recently submitted a planning application for a £200 million mass passenger transit (MPT) system, linking the airport terminal directly with Luton Airport Parkway station. Subject to planning permission, work on this project could begin later this year – with the system ready for operation by Spring 2021.

The MPT system will be a fully-automated, two-way, 24-hour people-mover based on the latest technology and design innovation.

What is the next challenge in improving ground access to London Luton Airport you see in the future?

With all the projects that are happening now, rail access to and from London Luton Airport will be dramatically transformed. The road connections are already good, so the innovations that will come in the future will be about improving accessibility through public transport.

The proposed Oxford-Cambridge rail link, running through the richest part of the UK, is a very interesting development for the airport. The new East-West line will intersect the Midland Mainline which currently serves the airport. This means that LLA is in a prime position to act as an integrated road, air and rail hub at the junction of these two strategic national economic corridors.

UK: London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL) has submitted the plans for the £200 million mass passenger transit (MPT) system linking London Luton Airport (LLA) with Luton Airport Parkway railway station.

The MPT will enable fast, easy access from central London to the UK’s fifth biggest and fastest-growing major airport in 30 minutes by providing a seamless transfer time of just five minutes from Luton Airport Parkway to the airport terminal.

Subject to planning permission, work could begin in late 2017 – with the system ready for operation by spring 2021.

LLAL, wholly-owned by the Luton Borough Council, will fund the scheme under its capital programme.

“London Luton Airport is experiencing unparalleled success, with a 44 per cent increase in passenger numbers since 2014,” said Cllr Andy Malcolm, Chair of LLAL and the Council’s Portfolio Holder for finance.

“Along with the £110m transformation of the airport, the MPT will make sure the passenger experience we provide is world-class, and combined will support ongoing growth to 18 million passengers per year by 2021.

“The submission of our planning application is the most significant moment yet in the ongoing £1.5bn transformation of our town under the exciting and ambitious Luton Investment Framework.

“It opens up opportunities for development throughout the London Luton Airport Enterprise Zone and confirms our confidence in Luton’s potential for economic and employment growth.”

The MPT system will be a fully-automated, two-way, 24-hour capable people-mover based on latest system technology and design innovation.

The 2.2km route will run between two purpose-built stations at Stirling Place and the Central Terminal.

The MPT will run alongside the mainline railway before crossing over Airport Way via a new landmark bridge. It will then continue through the airport’s existing mid-term car park, under a taxiway, and on to the Central Terminal.

Cllr Malcolm said: “London Luton Airport enjoys a catchment area of 23 million people within a two-hour travel time and is ready and willing to make a significant contribution to meeting the growing demand for air travel in London and the South-East.

“The journey time from St Pancras of less than 30 minutes will beat Liverpool Street to Stansted by 20 minutes and be faster than Victoria to Gatwick too.

“Combined with the prospect of four fast trains an hour from London as part of the upcoming East Midlands rail franchise, which we are campaigning for, this investment in mass passenger transit will transform the experience of those travelling to the airport by rail, and will encourage more people to do so and therefore help to reduce congestion on the roads.”

The London Luton Airport Enterprise Zone, supported by SEMLEP and the Government, will deliver 7,200 new jobs via Stirling Place, a revitalised airport business park and a new 70-acre commercial development at Century Park, east of London Luton Airport that will be served by a new 1.6-mile access road.

Nick Barton, CEO of London Luton Airport Operations Ltd (LLAOL), said: “We are investing £110m to transform the airport and improve the experience for passengers inside the terminal. Improving accessibility, particularly rail links, is equally crucial for the airport’s development.

“We are already working to secure four fast trains per hour to Luton Airport Parkway station as part of the new East Midlands rail franchise. The creation of a mass passenger transit link between Parkway and the terminal will be a key milestone in the airport’s transformation.”

Neil Slaven, Commercial Manager of easyJet, said: “easyJet welcomes the plan for a new direct rail link connecting Luton Airport Parkway train station with the airport. We already encourage our passengers to travel by rail, offering them the opportunity to purchase tickets on board and we hope the number of easyJet passengers at London Luton Airport who arrive by rail will increase with the new, faster link to the airport.
“We now fly over six million passengers a year to and from London Luton as the number one airline at the airport. The redevelopment of the airport was a key factor in our commitment to double our passenger numbers over the next 10 years.”

UK: Stansted Express has announced reduced fares across the board, starting from just £7 per person each way when booked in advance or when four people make a return journey together. Standard single fares are now only £16.60, or £28 return between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport.

The new fares put Stansted Express amongst the cheapest Stansted airport transport providers, while retaining a high quality service which includes fully flexible travel on any train on date of travel (and return tickets are valid for up to one month), no hidden fees, unlimited baggage allowance and free wifi.

With trains every 15 minutes providing the fastest link between central London, Tottenham Hale and Stansted Airport, recent official figures have demonstrated that it is also the most popular form of transport, above the coach or car.

Best prices are always online at www.stanstedexpress.com, where there are a range of other services available such as discounted hotels, theatre and attractions booking service, for added convenience and value.

Commercial director, Andrew Camp, commented: “People choosing to transfer to the airport by rail arrive quicker and in comfort, and now they’ll pay even less – from just £7 for a great service which includes an easy online booking service, comfortable, spacious and modern trains, free wifi, unlimited baggage allowance and free charge points and no booking fee – perfect for those who can’t wait to start their trip and want to travel in style for less.”

Daniel Gallo, Stansted Airport’s Customer Service & Security Director, said: “Stansted is already one of the UK’s busiest airports serving over 24 million passengers a year, and with the airport forecast to grow by more than any London airport in the next ten years, it’s vital that passengers have access to reliable, frequent and affordable transport options to and from the airport. The announcement of new lower fares is fantastic news as the Stansted Express not only offers some of the most modern and high quality trains serving any UK airport but now has the added benefit of very competitive and great value for money fare choices to make Stansted even more attractive to passengers wishing to take full advantage of the 180 destinations on offer at Stansted.”

Journey time to/from London Liverpool Street with Stansted Express is just 47 minutes or 36 minutes from Tottenham Hale (also in London) and the train station at the airport is directly under the airport terminal, just a 2-minute walk to check-in.