Transport in Luton

{{Short description|Transport in Luton, a large town in Bedfordshire, England}}

File:Luton Rail-Bus Interchange - geograph.org.uk - 3717644.jpg]]

Luton is a town in the United Kingdom less than {{convert|30|mi|km|-1}} north of the centre of London, and has good transport links via the motorway network and the National Rail system. Luton is also home to Luton Airport, one of the major feeder airports for London and the southeast. The town is also served by buses run by Arriva Herts & Essex and other operators and has a guided busway. As a Unitary Authority, Luton Borough Council is responsible for local highways and public transport in the borough.

Road

File:M1 Motorway near Luton.jpg, one of two junctions for Luton.]]

Luton is served by the M1 Motorway (London-Leeds), the A6 (Luton-Carlisle) and the A505 (Sawston-Leighton Buzzard).{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

Nearby settlements accessible by the road network include Milton Keynes and St Albans (via the M1), Bedford (via the A6), and Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Hitchin (via the A505).

Rail

File:Leagrave Main Building.jpg]]

Luton is served by three railway stations on the Midland Main Line: Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and Leagrave.

As of January 2023, Govia Thameslink Railway runs the Thameslink route north to Bedford and south to Brighton, Three Bridges and Rainham via central London stations. There are limited peak time services to East Grinstead, Orpington and Sutton.{{Cite web |title=Train Timetables {{!}} Train Times & Timetables {{!}} Thameslink |url=https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=www.thameslinkrailway.com |language=en-GB}}

East Midlands Railway operates semi-fast "EMR Connect" services between London St Pancras and Corby, calling at Luton and Luton Airport Parkway. They also operate limited services to Melton Mowbray, Nottingham and Sheffield from these stations.{{Cite web |title=Train timetables {{!}} EMR |url=https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/timetables |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk |language=en}}

Bus and coach services

Bus services are primarily operated by Arriva Herts & Essex, Centrebus and Grant Palmer.{{cite web|url=http://www.travelluton.co.uk/downloads/WEB-Luton_Bus_Map_jan_2015.pdf|title=Bus services in Luton|year=2014|publisher=travelluton.co.uk|accessdate=9 July 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226052813/http://www.travelluton.co.uk/downloads/WEB-Luton_Bus_Map_jan_2015.pdf|archivedate=26 February 2015}} A number of longer distance coach services operate from Luton Station Interchange and the Luton Airport bus station.

=Luton to Dunstable Busway=

File:Guided busway. Luton to Dunstable (geograph 5431915).jpg, opened in 2013]]

The Luton to Dunstable Busway is a guided bus connecting Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Luton with Luton Airport. The guided busway runs for 13.4 kilometres (8.3 miles) and was opened in September 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-24224674|title=Luton and Dunstable guided busway 'good for economy'|publisher=BBC|date=24 September 2013|accessdate=18 February 2015}}

Luton Airport

File:Luton airport.jpg]]

Luton Airport is {{convert|2|mi|abbr=on}} from Junction 10 of the M1 and is the fourth-largest airport serving the London area, after Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, and is one of London's six international airports along with London City Airport and London Southend Airport. The airport is a hub for EasyJet, TUI Airways and Ryanair.{{ cite web |title=Key Facts |publisher=London Luton Airport |url=http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/content/4/214/key-facts.html |accessdate=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717083303/http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/content/4/214/key-facts.html |archivedate=17 July 2007 }}

=Luton DART=

A, automated people mover/light rail transit line links Luton Airport with Luton Airport Parkway. It opened in March 2023 and, after an initial trial run, will provide a 24-hour service to and from the airport.{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64919546 | publisher = BBC News |date = 10 March 2023 | access-date = 10 March 2023 | title = Luton Dart airport shuttle welcomes first passengers}} It is expect to open 24 hours per day three weeks later.