LUTON -8
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With respect David I think you might not be aware of the difference between Spanish holidays with those of the UK. The schools break up in June and the mass exodus of people mainly to the Eastern and Southern coasts really picks up at the beginning of July until the return at the end of August which includes many North Africans who work in Spain and France. It is called Operation Verano with the police out in force to keep traffic moving etc. We are talking millions of car journeys here. Madrid more or less empties so there are many reductions of flights to the capital from the region's including San Sebastian, so the Luton flight is merely a gap filler. The area around San Sebastian is not really a big UK holiday destination, it is more expensive than most of Spain and the weather can be distinctly iffy so I would have thought around 40 per cent load factor on the first flight was not too bad.
compton - I know it's very much a gap-filler but for a route which is centred on taking UK residents to a beach in Spain who are all paying cheap leisure fares rather than last minute expense-account fares (think under £150 for a round trip of 2 hours each way), 22 passengers is really not a lot. Biarritz being less than 50 miles from San Sebastian gets some pretty iffy weather as well but seems to support plenty of flights to the UK. Let's see if the weekend brings better numbers...
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 27th Jul 2016 at 17:15.
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Mini update
I am doing this mini update as I will be away from the airport until the Autumn so no more Friday updates. If anyone can post the odd photo of the redevelopment I am sure it will be appreciated. Today's visit was the first since last Friday so I might have missed a few things during my quick visit.
The speed bump from hell has been removed and the flow rate has increased from around 9 cars per minute to between 11 and 16 cars per minute depending whether the cars are stopped within that minute (11 cars) or there is no interruption (up to 16 cars).
Where last week the traffic was free flowing once past the pedestrian crossing the increased volume now causes traffic to back up along the road to the pedestrian crossing. The fact that one lane is still fenced off just before the crossing has almost become irrelevant at times due to the short queue to enter the drop off area.
While the return lane is a little fuller than before there is always plenty of space on that return leg so why the queue to get into the drop off zone? Two issues really, the first one is despite the return lane having plenty of spaces some cars stop in the middle of the road just inside the entrance to load up passengers and their luggage so nothing else can get past.
Issue number two, which is more serious, is that where the drop off lane loops back on itself there are two pedestrian crossings. One for the outward leg and one for the return leg. As these crossings are constantly busy with passengers every car gets caught twice. There is someone trying to control these crossings but they don't always succeed.
The traffic flow rate wont increase now until the bridge is finished and even then we will have to see how 4 pedestrian crossing points will affect the traffic flow when the drop off zone reaches its full length.
The 19 metre section of bridge has been put in place with one side starting to be clad.
The old drop off area has been cleared of paving and kerbs as it needs to be realigned while the former exit route has been closed off.
The multistory car park has been opened on two floors for airport staff to park priority parking cars.
Still not much happening to the embankment by the tunnel and the terminal infill area has received a delivery of foundation re-enforcement rods.
Despite only 3 out of 5 exit lanes being completed for the drop off exit route there are no traffic hold ups there.
As for the increased traffic flow helping the traffic queues. As can be seen it is still a total nightmare
The speed bump from hell has been removed and the flow rate has increased from around 9 cars per minute to between 11 and 16 cars per minute depending whether the cars are stopped within that minute (11 cars) or there is no interruption (up to 16 cars).
Where last week the traffic was free flowing once past the pedestrian crossing the increased volume now causes traffic to back up along the road to the pedestrian crossing. The fact that one lane is still fenced off just before the crossing has almost become irrelevant at times due to the short queue to enter the drop off area.
While the return lane is a little fuller than before there is always plenty of space on that return leg so why the queue to get into the drop off zone? Two issues really, the first one is despite the return lane having plenty of spaces some cars stop in the middle of the road just inside the entrance to load up passengers and their luggage so nothing else can get past.
Issue number two, which is more serious, is that where the drop off lane loops back on itself there are two pedestrian crossings. One for the outward leg and one for the return leg. As these crossings are constantly busy with passengers every car gets caught twice. There is someone trying to control these crossings but they don't always succeed.
The traffic flow rate wont increase now until the bridge is finished and even then we will have to see how 4 pedestrian crossing points will affect the traffic flow when the drop off zone reaches its full length.
The 19 metre section of bridge has been put in place with one side starting to be clad.
The old drop off area has been cleared of paving and kerbs as it needs to be realigned while the former exit route has been closed off.
The multistory car park has been opened on two floors for airport staff to park priority parking cars.
Still not much happening to the embankment by the tunnel and the terminal infill area has received a delivery of foundation re-enforcement rods.
Despite only 3 out of 5 exit lanes being completed for the drop off exit route there are no traffic hold ups there.
As for the increased traffic flow helping the traffic queues. As can be seen it is still a total nightmare
Last edited by LTNman; 28th Jul 2016 at 09:41.
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I was listening to 3CR live from the airport this morning. The airport management have issued a 14 point action plan to alleviate the current situation. Anyone seen that 14 point plan?
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BBC Three Counties Radio - Andy Collins, Luton Airport traffic, St Albans laughing yoga and what goes in your fridge? worth a listen from about 1:20. I would also be interested to hear about the 14 point plan. At the end of the day the drop off zone won't be getting any bigger soon and that crossing will be in place for the next few months.
Typical PR spin from the airport rep on the radio interview....
The main issue as highlighted during the interview is that work is not being carried out 24/7. I regularly watch the Ryebridge staff amble in after parking in their dedicated car park next to the short term drop-off from 8am onwards!
The main issue as highlighted during the interview is that work is not being carried out 24/7. I regularly watch the Ryebridge staff amble in after parking in their dedicated car park next to the short term drop-off from 8am onwards!
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There is a big difference between the 3 main contractors and their staff.
Buckingham Group and their ample workforce never seem to stop for breaks, i am sure they do but it just isn't noticeable. At the same time of day not a single Whitemountain contractor who are building the roads, drop off zone and the three cores with the their bridges have completely disappeared and are gone for a good 30 minutes. Their progress is not helped by the fact that they always seem to lack manpower.
Same also applies to the contractor doing the terminal infill. Again not a person to be seen although in their case many of them are working out of eye contact.
Buckingham Group and their ample workforce never seem to stop for breaks, i am sure they do but it just isn't noticeable. At the same time of day not a single Whitemountain contractor who are building the roads, drop off zone and the three cores with the their bridges have completely disappeared and are gone for a good 30 minutes. Their progress is not helped by the fact that they always seem to lack manpower.
Same also applies to the contractor doing the terminal infill. Again not a person to be seen although in their case many of them are working out of eye contact.
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Regarding the 14 point action plan, I have seen I think 4 mobile lighted signs, the ones that can be programmed with messages, informing passengers of free parking in the mid and long term car park. Just another 10 points to go.
Also a week or so ago check-in desks 201-210 have had hoardings placed in front of them. I read here some months ago that the plan to move these back into a slightly extended check-in area to make them more useable had been dropped. I don't know if they are going to be refurbished, permanently removed or removed and then put back in a new location so the hall can be indeed slightly extended.
Also a week or so ago check-in desks 201-210 have had hoardings placed in front of them. I read here some months ago that the plan to move these back into a slightly extended check-in area to make them more useable had been dropped. I don't know if they are going to be refurbished, permanently removed or removed and then put back in a new location so the hall can be indeed slightly extended.
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Interesting points made in the last two posts. I know Buckingham Plant, and the owner, very well. We did a number of projects together in the 80s. Great firm, great owner.They will always complete a project on time.
As to the airport statement the contractors are not working 24/7 what a cop out. This is how civil engineering contracts work. At the time of tender, the client can specify whatever he wants, materials , hours worked ,duration of contract when certain sections are to be completed, etc,etc.The minimum condition in a contract is the start date and completion date. If that is all that is specified its up to the contractor how and when he does the job but that will mean a 39 hour week during the day, Monday to Friday. If the client wishes to change the conditions of the contract he can. But he picks up the bill for the additional costs.
Some lack of forethought on behalf of the client seems to be the more likely reason for the current state of affairs.
If you want to hear some of the strangest and very onerous conditions I have worked on let me know.
As to the airport statement the contractors are not working 24/7 what a cop out. This is how civil engineering contracts work. At the time of tender, the client can specify whatever he wants, materials , hours worked ,duration of contract when certain sections are to be completed, etc,etc.The minimum condition in a contract is the start date and completion date. If that is all that is specified its up to the contractor how and when he does the job but that will mean a 39 hour week during the day, Monday to Friday. If the client wishes to change the conditions of the contract he can. But he picks up the bill for the additional costs.
Some lack of forethought on behalf of the client seems to be the more likely reason for the current state of affairs.
If you want to hear some of the strangest and very onerous conditions I have worked on let me know.
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From memory it was announced many moons ago in press releases that the new road layout was an 18 month contract. The multistory car park was I think around a 9 month contract and the terminal and pier was 2 years with the pier being finished last.
Don't know who won the contract for the taxiway and apron extension that was out to tender in March but the summer months are running out when it is a good time to shift earth.
Don't know who won the contract for the taxiway and apron extension that was out to tender in March but the summer months are running out when it is a good time to shift earth.
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The WhiteMountain contract is worth £13 million. The terminal project is £65 million which was £13 below the airports own estimate while the multistory car park is costing £8 million. Total cost £86 million. That leaves £24 million for the remaining projects that haven't been started yet.
Worth noting that while the terminal contract was £13 million less than expected the whole protect that was originally quoted as costing £100 million became £110 million.
It will be interesting to see when the final part of the passenger foot bridge is installed seeing that the approach road to the drop off and short term car park will have to be closed for the lift for several hours. Do they wait until say November which is one of the quieter months or do they just get on with it asap?
Worth noting that while the terminal contract was £13 million less than expected the whole protect that was originally quoted as costing £100 million became £110 million.
It will be interesting to see when the final part of the passenger foot bridge is installed seeing that the approach road to the drop off and short term car park will have to be closed for the lift for several hours. Do they wait until say November which is one of the quieter months or do they just get on with it asap?
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If the PR tells the interviewer that they have a 3-point plan, then they will be asked what those three points are. If you say you have 14 points, you will only get asked about two of them - which are easily and genuinely dealt with.
I wasn't born cynical, it's the living in the UK that does it.
I wasn't born cynical, it's the living in the UK that does it.
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As already noted they have put up portable lit up message boards to try and entice motorists to use the mid and long term car park but when drivers have already queued to get to the Holiday Inn why would they want to add to the travel time by then depositing passengers in a car park where passengers then have to wait for a bus that will also get stuck in a queue of traffic?
Other parts of the 14 point plan will be:
2/ To get the guys controlling the crossing to hold the pedestrians back for longer.
3/ For those same guys not to get into conversations with drivers.
4/ Also for those guys to wave their arms frantically to encourage drivers to close the gap to the car in front.
5/ To put staff on the two crossing points in the drop off zone to try and maintain some sort of traffic flow.
Can't think of anything else that can be done. There must be a very good reason why a portable fence has been put up just before the crossing. It seems to be there for no other reason than to limit traffic to a single lane when the new road at this point is already 2 lanes.
What I did notice on my midweek visit was that the contractor is actually cracking on with getting the old drop off area back into use so it could be the case that by next week it is brought back into service so doubling its size so maybe that is point number 6.
Other parts of the 14 point plan will be:
2/ To get the guys controlling the crossing to hold the pedestrians back for longer.
3/ For those same guys not to get into conversations with drivers.
4/ Also for those guys to wave their arms frantically to encourage drivers to close the gap to the car in front.
5/ To put staff on the two crossing points in the drop off zone to try and maintain some sort of traffic flow.
Can't think of anything else that can be done. There must be a very good reason why a portable fence has been put up just before the crossing. It seems to be there for no other reason than to limit traffic to a single lane when the new road at this point is already 2 lanes.
What I did notice on my midweek visit was that the contractor is actually cracking on with getting the old drop off area back into use so it could be the case that by next week it is brought back into service so doubling its size so maybe that is point number 6.
Last edited by LTNman; 30th Jul 2016 at 06:49.
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So much negativity. We all knew that doing work on the airport especially in the summertime was going to cause problems. It is what it is, The work needed to be done. I have flown through twice since the work started.. Is it super fun times? Nope.. But I see the progress. Most people won't care as long as their flight is cheap. Appreciate all the pictures and updates. Was there a Swiss Airlines Bombardier the other week? I am sure I noticed one as we landed but might have been dreaming.
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Ah nice one buster glad I wasn't seeing things.
Don't want anyone censored infact I understand the complaints. I just knew it was coming, Airport expansion always brings problems and with LTN we knew it would be verging on ridiculous at times but they are progressing. The routine of regurgitating the same thing day after day serves no purpose. Takes a long while to get to the end point but the work had to be done.
You should rejoice in the fact that is ok to air critical opinions on here, unlike certain other North London Airport threads where even a sniff of an alternative viewpoint will result in mass condemnation from the PR Police.
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You should rejoice in the fact that is ok to air critical opinions on here, unlike certain other North London Airport threads where even a sniff of an alternative viewpoint will result in mass condemnation from the PR Police.
Once Christmas is here hopefully the road situation will be fixed. That will just leave another year for the terminal to be sorted out. Then we can start looking at phase 2 and 3 plus the new rail link so we will still have plenty to comment on.
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That's interesting as I am thinking that there will be a slight decline next year in part due to airlines and passengers wising up to the issues the airport is having.