So there is a need for reliable Bendy Buses at a frequency to suit demand,
Govia took over the franchise about a year ago and since then have run down the service by halving the capacity by replacing all but one of the bendy buses with low capacity coaches. Today I didn't even see a bendy bus on the service yet two years ago it was a 100% bendy bus operation.
Two of the three replacement low capacity coaches have now been painted in the shuttle bus colour scheme so this is no temporary arrangement. One wonders what the airport thinks about this and even if they have noticed.
The new franchise requirement has the shuttle bus operation listed as ancillary revenue which is the same as selling advertising space at stations and on trains.
The specification is as follows:
Luton Airport Bus Link
12.11 Subject to the approval of London Luton Airport Limited, the Franchisee shall:
(a) from the Start Date and for the remainder of the Franchise Term, introduce and operate a high frequency shuttle bus service (operating at a frequency of not less than 6 buses per hour in each direction between 05:00 and 00:00 and 2 buses per hour in each direction between 00:00 and 05:00) linking Luton Airport Parkway Station with Luton Airport (the "Luton Airport Bus Link"); and
(b) install a new customer information desk and ticket sales point at Luton Airport by 30 September 2016.
What the franchise requirement has forgot to mention is the minimum seating capacity of the link. In fact there is nothing stopping Govia replacing the coach service with minibuses if they wish. The result of all of this is the truly shocking standing room only service Govia now offers.
At the same time National Express have gone from next to no passengers when they took over from GreenLine to full coaches for much of the day despite Green Line being allowed to remain on the route after their court case so maybe passengers are starting to reject the rail option.
I would suggest that consideration be given to extend the bus lane right into the CTA bus stop once the new dual carriageway is completed.
That would be on the assumption that there will still be congestion in the CTA. Hopefully the congestion will be a thing of the past.