LUTON -8
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If you look at the latest photos on last page you will see that the barriers have been moved and are no longer an issue. The issue is a temporary pedestrian crossing, once traffic is past that there are no problems with the drop off area free flowing. The crossing is there as the pedestrian bridge is still months away from being finished.
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Pedestrians crossing the incoming traffic was one of the original causes of massive congestion several years ago. The airport appear to have recognised an issue since they have allocated 2 staff to control the crossing. The only way I see that this improves is for the staff to be ruthless - they must make pedestrians wait for several minutes before allowing them to cross. Something like allocating 30 seconds crossing time in every 5 minute period meaning traffic has priority for 90% of the time.
I was also at Parkway station this evening around 18.10 coming back from work and can confirm the chaos. Dozens of people starting running / walking up the hill. They had waited ages for a bus to arrive and when it did there wasn't enough capacity. I guess they decided waiting for another one was futile.
Something has to be done here - there must be a significant increase in people missing their flights. I assume the airlines report numbers to the airport - do any of these ever get published anywhere?
I was also at Parkway station this evening around 18.10 coming back from work and can confirm the chaos. Dozens of people starting running / walking up the hill. They had waited ages for a bus to arrive and when it did there wasn't enough capacity. I guess they decided waiting for another one was futile.
Something has to be done here - there must be a significant increase in people missing their flights. I assume the airlines report numbers to the airport - do any of these ever get published anywhere?
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The only way I see that this improves is for the staff to be ruthless
Drivers stopping to ask directions is another big problem and the speed hump from hell is problem number three. When cars are are allowed through a gap opens up between the crossing and the speed hump as cars can only pass over it at around 1 mph. The hump should be removed as cars are already at a standstill.
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Once the two lanes are opened and the bridge opens the traffic problem should go but the next few months are going to be painful.
Normally now there is no traffic issues at this time but it is still tailing back all the way to the A505
Normally now there is no traffic issues at this time but it is still tailing back all the way to the A505
Looton
= Toilet Town.
I've been operating from this dump almost continuously since Suckling (pig****) Airways days.
Rien Plus ca Change.
Toilet Town "Airport." The disgrace of the nation. I very much doubt it can ever change.
= Toilet Town.
I've been operating from this dump almost continuously since Suckling (pig****) Airways days.
Rien Plus ca Change.
Toilet Town "Airport." The disgrace of the nation. I very much doubt it can ever change.
I haven't been to Luton airport for a few weeks so haven't seen these new controlled pedestrian crossing areas in person.
However, what would stop pedestrians who get fed up waiting after 60 seconds just deciding to climb over or duck under a barrier and walk across the road ? Will these attendants have power to use physical force to prevent people crossing or impose fines ? Power of arrest similiar to police ?
A person with a lollipop controlling small children is one thing - just can't see adults putting up with being nannied.
However, what would stop pedestrians who get fed up waiting after 60 seconds just deciding to climb over or duck under a barrier and walk across the road ? Will these attendants have power to use physical force to prevent people crossing or impose fines ? Power of arrest similiar to police ?
A person with a lollipop controlling small children is one thing - just can't see adults putting up with being nannied.
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Oh and another thing, the crossing marks the start of the new road. To get to the crossing cars are following a fenced route through the short term car park. At some point a new road will have to be built around the cars heading for the crossing.
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It's a complete disaster for the airport. Airport Management thought they could muddle through by accepting every new airline, route and passenger that wanted to use the airport this year when even at last years levels they would not have been able to cope.
They have been left with a public transport system that yesterday collapsed with passengers being forced to walk to and from the station. Massive queues for National Express as buses got caught up in traffic. Staff and car park coach services erratic to say the least with massive gaps in service with not everyone being able to board coaches. Building workers and materials that can't get to site, Easyjet office staff facing an extra hours travel time, the list just goes on and on.
Once inside the terminal there are no seats with passengers forced to sit on the floor. The queues for the restaurants and toilets are massive and most of the shops seem to be closed.
People have been complaining that it is taking over 2 hours to get landside with no steps meeting aircraft, over an hour to get through passport control and then finding that their luggage still hasn't got to the belt.
There are plenty of passenger comments on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LDNLutonAirport/reviews and that was before the nightmare of yesterday started.
Whitemountain need to be onsite 24/7 to get the bridge finished and the rest of their project. The multistory car park which was started months later than the three cores being built by the CTA contractor is probably at least 50 times the size of the cores and bridge yet it has already opened its first section.
They have been left with a public transport system that yesterday collapsed with passengers being forced to walk to and from the station. Massive queues for National Express as buses got caught up in traffic. Staff and car park coach services erratic to say the least with massive gaps in service with not everyone being able to board coaches. Building workers and materials that can't get to site, Easyjet office staff facing an extra hours travel time, the list just goes on and on.
Once inside the terminal there are no seats with passengers forced to sit on the floor. The queues for the restaurants and toilets are massive and most of the shops seem to be closed.
People have been complaining that it is taking over 2 hours to get landside with no steps meeting aircraft, over an hour to get through passport control and then finding that their luggage still hasn't got to the belt.
There are plenty of passenger comments on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LDNLutonAirport/reviews and that was before the nightmare of yesterday started.
Whitemountain need to be onsite 24/7 to get the bridge finished and the rest of their project. The multistory car park which was started months later than the three cores being built by the CTA contractor is probably at least 50 times the size of the cores and bridge yet it has already opened its first section.
Last edited by LTNman; 23rd Jul 2016 at 10:26.
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Seems like the port of Dover is having the same problems this morning - delays of over four hours. Too many people going on holday at the same time although came through Newhaven yesterday with no problems. Stopped off at Limogess airport on the way up - lovely restaurant overlooking the ramp - ah those were the daysat Luton.
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This airport is an absolute disgrace. 
Picked up the mrs last weekend, planned ahead how to do this online and read pages upon pages of utter BS of different 'convenient' but VERY pricey ways to pick her up, based on how close to terminal and obviously how much I wanted to be scammed out of.
In the end plummed for the 'mid stay' car park which is free for 15 minutes. How generous of them!
On arrival the airport site is a total shambles! Looks like a war zone. What on earth is this place, building works everywhere and a car park that looks like a muddy field from Glastonbury festival. Poor design, poor layout and everything designed to fleece the pax and those associated with them (pick up/drop off) out of more money.
Total overhaul needed, starting with new terminal in a sensible location perhaps? What a joke
Picked up the mrs last weekend, planned ahead how to do this online and read pages upon pages of utter BS of different 'convenient' but VERY pricey ways to pick her up, based on how close to terminal and obviously how much I wanted to be scammed out of.
In the end plummed for the 'mid stay' car park which is free for 15 minutes. How generous of them!
On arrival the airport site is a total shambles! Looks like a war zone. What on earth is this place, building works everywhere and a car park that looks like a muddy field from Glastonbury festival. Poor design, poor layout and everything designed to fleece the pax and those associated with them (pick up/drop off) out of more money.
Total overhaul needed, starting with new terminal in a sensible location perhaps? What a joke
Paxing All Over The World
Buster and LTNman are correct. As has been oft repeated, the original cost of doing a 'cut and cover' exit road tunnel out to the Wigmore side was so obviously a good and long term solution that would pay handsome dividends - that it was no surprise it was not done. After all, if you have two access roads, you can close one in low season to expedite work on it with no traffic.
I have seen the short, accountants, view has plagued Britain all my working life. Since 1978.
I have seen the short, accountants, view has plagued Britain all my working life. Since 1978.
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Even the back way into the airport is grid locked with the queue starting at Frank Lester Way. Anyone heading for the long term car park will get caught on the hill from the A505 and then again waiting for car park coaches that will be lucky to run every 45 minutes and then take another 45 minutes to get to the terminal.
If something isn't done soon this traffic chaos is going to also have a serious affect on the VIP corporate traffic as biz jet passengers don't like being held up anywhere!
Its a perfect storm that most of us have seen coming for years and yet the head in sand mentality of successive airport managements has taken us to where we are now!
Working airside is just as frustrating....huge issues trying to cross the taxiways and pot luck stand allocation (especially at night!) The South Stands remain a lower security zone than the rest of the main apron stands (entailing further security aggro!!)
Its a perfect storm that most of us have seen coming for years and yet the head in sand mentality of successive airport managements has taken us to where we are now!
Working airside is just as frustrating....huge issues trying to cross the taxiways and pot luck stand allocation (especially at night!) The South Stands remain a lower security zone than the rest of the main apron stands (entailing further security aggro!!)
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I would imagine that there have been some major complaints from airport tenants regarding this.
There are some very simple things that can be done to help the traffic flow.
1/ Open up access to both lanes of the pedestrian crossing to double the traffic flow rate. All that needs to happen is the removal of a temporary fence.
2/ Remove the crazy screwed down speed hump located around 20m before the crossing. Traffic is already at a standstill and all it does is create a gap in the traffic when the first 3 cars are allowed to cross the crossing as the following traffic can't keep up.
There are some very simple things that can be done to help the traffic flow.
1/ Open up access to both lanes of the pedestrian crossing to double the traffic flow rate. All that needs to happen is the removal of a temporary fence.
2/ Remove the crazy screwed down speed hump located around 20m before the crossing. Traffic is already at a standstill and all it does is create a gap in the traffic when the first 3 cars are allowed to cross the crossing as the following traffic can't keep up.
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With all three route into the airport completely gridlocked including the full length of Percival Way from Frank Lester Way, the shuttle link to the airport doesn't appear to be running now.
I myself who wasn't even going to the airport got caught in jams that started by Capability Green. I came off by Parkway and tried to get through Vauxhall's but the jams extended into Kimpton Road so I had to turn around and travel through Luton town centre.
I wonder if the airport will just accept the delays or whether they will sort out the obvious to increase the flow rate?
I myself who wasn't even going to the airport got caught in jams that started by Capability Green. I came off by Parkway and tried to get through Vauxhall's but the jams extended into Kimpton Road so I had to turn around and travel through Luton town centre.
I wonder if the airport will just accept the delays or whether they will sort out the obvious to increase the flow rate?
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Expect not.
Some airlines will be complaining to the airport management whilst at the same time making money for rebooking missed flights. Be surprised it they have any sympathy for the passengers.
Some airlines will be complaining to the airport management whilst at the same time making money for rebooking missed flights. Be surprised it they have any sympathy for the passengers.
Indeed that is what is happening Buster!
The queues were backed-up as far as H61 on Percival Way at 1900 tonight.
Passengers everywhere walking with bags in scenes reminiscent of a third-world country!!
The queues were backed-up as far as H61 on Percival Way at 1900 tonight.
Passengers everywhere walking with bags in scenes reminiscent of a third-world country!!