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Luton railway station

{{Short description|Railway station in Bedfordshire, England}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox station

| name = Luton

| symbol_location = gb

| symbol = rail

| image = Luton_railway_station_MMB_13.jpg

| caption = Facing south from platform 2

| borough = Luton, Borough of Luton

| country = England

| grid_name = Grid reference

| grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|TL092216|25|TL092216}}

| manager = Thameslink

| platforms = 5

| code = LUT

| classification = DfT category B

| opened = 1868

| mpassengers = {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 3.682 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 84,131}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 1.107 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 22,211}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 2.417 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 48,344}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 3.282 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 51,288}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 3.646 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 50,864}}

| footnotes = Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-zoom = 13

}}

{{Luton railways}}

Luton railway station (formerly Luton Midland Road) is located in the town centre of Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The station is about three minutes' walk from The Mall Shopping Centre. It is situated on the Midland Main Line and is operated by Thameslink.

History

Luton station was built by the Midland Railway in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras. For some years, it was known as Luton Midland Road to distinguish it from the earlier {{rws|Luton Bute Street}}, which was built in 1858 on the GNR line from Hertford North to Leighton Buzzard.

A public area, known as the Great Moor, had to be built through; the remainder of the land was bought for development by John Crawley, who provided a replacement in what is known as the People's Park. This proved a worthwhile investment because, as the town's staple trade in straw hats diminished as they went out of fashion, it was replaced by engineering works. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the population had nearly trebled and the station had become an important stop for main line expresses.

=London, Midland and Scottish Railway=

The station, consisting of three platforms, was rebuilt in 1939 to the designs of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway company architect William Henry Hamlyn.{{cite book |last=Pevsner |first=Nikolaus |date=1968 |title=The Buildings of England. Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough |publisher=Yale University Press|page=117 |isbn=9780300095814}}

=British Rail era=

In 1960, a fourth platform was added. During electrification in the early 1980s, a fifth platform was added for the suburban services to and from St. Pancras.Radford, B., (1983) Midland Line Memories: a Pictorial History of the Midland Railway Main Line Between London (St Pancras) & Derby London: Bloomsbury Books

=Privatisation=

Upon the opening of Eurostar at St. Pancras International, through-fares to continental Europe were made available from Luton and 67 other UK towns and cities to Paris, Brussels and other destinations in France and Belgium.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/about_eurostar/press_release/through_fares_UK_continental_europe_available_eurostar.jsp |title=Through-fares from 68 UK towns and cities to continental Europe now available on eurostar.com |work=Eurostar.com |access-date=28 December 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071230012224/http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/about_eurostar/press_release/through_fares_UK_continental_europe_available_eurostar.jsp| archive-date = 30 December 2007}}

The station is set for significant investment from both Network Rail and First Group to improve facilities for customers, as well as creating longer platforms as part of the Thameslink Programme. In 2009, the station was identified as one of the ten worst category B interchange stations for mystery shopper assessment of fabric and environment; it is set to receive a share of £50 million funding for improvements.{{ cite web | title=£50m revamp for 'worst stations' | publisher=BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8363621.stm | date=17 November 2009 | access-date=17 November 2009 }} During 2010 and 2011, a number of improvements were implemented at the station; these included extensions to all five platforms (including removing the barrow crossing) and a new footbridge.{{ cite web | title=Platform Extensions | publisher=BCM Construction | url=http://www.bcmconstruction.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65:platform-extensions&catid=38:projects&Itemid=68 | date=24 March 2011 | access-date=24 March 2011 }}{{cite web | title=Network Change Notice – Luton Station | publisher=Network Rail | url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/network%20code/network%20change/completed%20proposals/thameslink/luton%20ncn/ncg12009tlp007b%20luton-%20network%20change%20notice.pdf | date=20 January 2010 | access-date=24 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001083557/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/network%20code/network%20change/completed%20proposals/thameslink/luton%20ncn/ncg12009tlp007b%20luton-%20network%20change%20notice.pdf | archive-date=1 October 2012 | url-status=dead }} The platform extensions formed part of the Thameslink Programme and allowed 12-coach operation at the station. During these works, two new rail overbridges were installed over Old Bedford Road allowing the track to be slewed for the extended platforms.{{ cite web | title=Gently does it! Bridge moved in over Easter | publisher=First Capital Connect | url=http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/news/news_items/view/47 | date=24 March 2011 | access-date=24 March 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822060451/http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/news/news_items/view/47 | archive-date=22 August 2010 | df=dmy-all }}

= Accidents and incidents =

There have been two accidents at Luton, one in 1955, the other in 1976:

== 1955 accident ==

{{Infobox public transit accident

| name = Luton rail crash

| date = 22 December 1955

| time = 19:56

| location = Luton railway station

| country = England

| line = Midland Main Line

| cause = Signal passed at danger

| trains = 2

| deaths = 1

| injuries = 23

| footnotes = List of UK rail accidents by year

}}

On 22 December 1955, two passenger trains collided at Luton station. One passenger was killed, and 23 injured. The first train, a local service from St Pancras to Leicester, had been given the "right away" from Luton and started to leave the station, but came to a halt when some late passengers attempted to board. As the train was clear of the Home signal, the signalman accepted the second train, an express from St Pancras to Derby. The signals were left at "Danger", so the Derby train should have stopped at the Home signal until the Leicester train had left the station. However, the driver of the Derby train failed to observe the Distant signal, and only made an emergency brake application when he saw the Home signal at danger, from a distance of approximately {{convert|400|yd|m}}. He was unable to stop the train in time, and it collided with the stationary Leicester train. The rear two coaches of the Leicester train telescoped into each other, causing the majority of casualties. The official enquiry held the driver of the Derby train responsible for the collision, but also noted that the lights from the nearby Vauxhall factory obscured the view of the Distant signal. The lighting was reorganised following the accident.{{Cite book |last=Ministry of Transport |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=1186 |title=Report on the Collision at Luton Station |author2=Brig C A Langley |date=11 May 1956 |publisher=HMSO |access-date=12 September 2010}}

== 1976 accident ==

{{Infobox public transit accident

| name = Luton rail crash

| date = 25 June 1976

| time =

| location = Luton railway station

| country = England

| line = Midland Main Line

| cause = Signal passed at danger

| trains = 3

| deaths =

| injuries =

| footnotes = List of UK rail accidents by year

}}

A passenger train being operated by a diesel multiple unit overran signals and collided with another diesel multiple unit at Luton South Signal Box. An express passenger train then collided with the wreckage, striking it with a glancing blow.{{cite book |last=Hoole |first=Ken |title=Trains in Trouble: Vol. 4 |publisher=Atlantic Books |year=1983 |isbn=0-906899-07-9 |location=Truro |author-link=Ken Hoole}}

Facilities

The station participates in the Plusbus scheme where train and bus tickets can be bought together for a cheaper price. It is in the same area as {{rws|Luton Airport Parkway}} and {{rws|Leagrave}} stations.

FastTicket machines are used at this station. Thameslink has proposed closing the ticket office.{{cite news|url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/transport/luton-mps-call-on-stand-against-plans-to-close-railway-stations-ticket-office-in-the-town-4211321 |title=Luton MPs call on stand against plans to close railway station's ticket office in the town |first1 =Olivia |last1=Preston |date=7 July 2023|newspaper=Luton Today}}

Facilities at the station include two waiting rooms, a newsagent, cafe, telephones, an ATM, ticket barriers, toilets, and a car park with 669 spaces.

Services

Services at Luton are operated by East Midlands Railway (under their EMR Connect brand) and Thameslink using {{brc|360}} and {{brc|700|n}} EMUs respectively.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:{{NRtimes|May 2022|52, 53, 201}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/20220516/-7GUKG7wJl7Iu5OANy8LQOgxd6BHzkD9gPDcK_DJw1o/emr_tt01_may22_web.pdf|title=Train Times: InterCity and Connect services|work=East Midlands Railway|access-date=19 September 2022}}

East Midlands Railway

On Sundays only, a limited number of Intercity East Midlands Railway services to and from {{stnlnk|Nottingham}} call at the station.{{cite web|url= https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/20210205/n_i9XmBXOR0fcjO1G0Dq3EgB1L4jbxKJtxUTIOwnjEc/emr_may_2021_results_document_rgb_new_final.pdf|title= EMR May 2021 Timetable Change Consultation Results|work=East Midlands Railway, May 2021}}

Thameslink

  • 4 tph to {{stnlnk|Bedford}} (stopping)
  • 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Brighton}} via {{stnlnk|Gatwick Airport}}
  • 2 tph to Three Bridges via {{stnlnk|Redhill}}
  • 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Rainham|Kent}} via {{stnlnk|Dartford}}

During the peak hours, the station is served by additional services to and from {{stnlnk|Orpington}}, {{stnlnk|Sutton|London}} and {{stnlnk|East Grinstead}}. Some services on Sundays run to Horsham via Crawley.

Thameslink also operate a half-hourly night service between Bedford and {{stnlnk|Three Bridges}} on Sunday to Friday nights.

{{rail start}}

{{rail line|rows2=3|previous={{stnlnk|Bedford}}|next={{stnlnk|Luton Airport Parkway}}|route=East Midlands Railway
{{smalldiv|London to Corby Connect}}|col={{EMR colour}} }}

{{s-rail-national|hide2=yes||rowsmid=2|previous=Leagrave|next=Luton Airport Parkway|toc=Thameslink|route={{smalldiv|Thameslink}}}}

{{s-rail-national|hide2=yes|hidemid=yes|next=Luton Airport Parkway|toc=Thameslink|route={{smalldiv|Thameslink}}}}

{{end}}

Connections

Luton Station Interchange, in front of the station building, provides connections with local and regional bus services.

There was previously a shuttle bus service from the station to nearby London Luton Airport; however, the dedicated shuttle ceased following the construction of Luton Airport Parkway station. Arriva's A, 100, F70 and F77 and Stagecoach's LAX and MK1 all run to the airport.

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category|Luton railway station}}

{{stn art lnk|LUT|LU12LT}}

{{Railway stations in Bedfordshire}}

{{TSGN and SE Stations|CityMetro=y|CityFlyer=y|Ashford=y|Catford Loop=y|SE None=y|SN None=y}}

{{Luton}}

{{Railway stations served by East Midlands Railway}}

{{Coord|51.88227|N|0.41432|W|region:GB_type:railwaystation|display=title}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Luton

Category:Railway stations in Bedfordshire

Category:Former Midland Railway stations

Category:DfT Category B stations

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1868

Category:Railway stations served by East Midlands Railway

Category:Railway stations served by Govia Thameslink Railway

Category:Transport in Luton/Dunstable Urban Area

Category:Railway accidents involving a signal passed at danger

Category:William Henry Hamlyn buildings

Category:Rail accidents caused by a driver's error