LUTON -8
LTNman -
You cite the capacity increase as 5m. But the current work is to increase capacity from 10m (by design) or 12m (actual) to 18m (design) or 20m (likely actual).
Either way, the current work will increase capacity by more like 8m. Bargain!
You cite the capacity increase as 5m. But the current work is to increase capacity from 10m (by design) or 12m (actual) to 18m (design) or 20m (likely actual).
Either way, the current work will increase capacity by more like 8m. Bargain!
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I hate to contest your otherwise excelllent knowledge of all things Luton LTNman but I have checked on this and the above mentioned tragedy in 2009 was what prompted the H&SE site inspection which led to an instruction to "to segregate pedestrians and vehicles" - of which the result was the installation of the pavement railings.
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https://www.hrjforemanlaws.co.uk/news/1456 is the appeal.
It mentions here about railings but it is a long report so I haven't fully taken on board what they are saying but you might well be right.
It mentions here about railings but it is a long report so I haven't fully taken on board what they are saying but you might well be right.
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OK Buster, I can see where you are coming from but I would just want to add the following before I move on.
Work began on the redesigned scheme in October 2008 and was completed by March 2009 in part due to the new measures to restrict public vehicles getting closer than 30m to any terminal after he Glasgow terrorist attack.
The £1 drop off charge was introduced 29th April 2009
Luton Airport introduce £1 drop off fee : Luton Airport News Stories
The poor lady was killed on 16th May 2009 and the HSE served with an Improvement Notice on 17 July 2009.
The airport was taken to court for contravening a requirement imposed by an improvement notice served between 30 September 2009 and 25 May 2010
So it would seem that the railings were eventually put in for H&S reasons and my statement below was actually correct but they did not predate the accident
Work began on the redesigned scheme in October 2008 and was completed by March 2009 in part due to the new measures to restrict public vehicles getting closer than 30m to any terminal after he Glasgow terrorist attack.
The £1 drop off charge was introduced 29th April 2009
Luton Airport introduce £1 drop off fee : Luton Airport News Stories
The poor lady was killed on 16th May 2009 and the HSE served with an Improvement Notice on 17 July 2009.
The airport was taken to court for contravening a requirement imposed by an improvement notice served between 30 September 2009 and 25 May 2010
In relation to the CTA area, before the redesign, vehicles would stop on the roundabout, people would get out of their cars and then make their way to the terminal; and pedestrians would also make their way onto the roundabout from the terminal, taking the shortest visible route, because of a lack of appropriate guard rails/fencing, route-planning and traffic management. This was a significant hazard to pedestrians, which the defendants knew about before the redesign, but the appellant’s redesign did nothing to prevent such behaviour.
I assume they were put in to act as a passenger deterrent to stop people getting out of a stationary queuing car rather than keeping people on the pavement and off the road.
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Either way, the current work will increase capacity by more like 8m. Bargain!
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The 1998/9 extension was more than just a check in hall. The airside works were the widening and strengthening of delta ( excluding the link to the main apron), the construction of the east stands, the construction of alpha from beta (engine run up bay) to its current tie in to the runway. This taxiway increase was a major part of the increase in traffic. There was also a lot of underground works needed for upgrading the follow on works. From memory the total talked about investment figure was never reached. The development partner and investment partner thought they had done enough, took their money back, flogged their shares and coined it in. The development since then has been in bits and pieces.
On a brighter note came through the airport Tuesday night 11.15 pm ish. The ground handling appeared to be one bloke. Had chocs on, front steps up , cones out and front steps up and door open in 5 mins, great worker. Immigration hall heaving. Went through auto gates in under 10 mins. 6 flights showing on info boards, not mine. Waited 10 mins cases through. Phoned local taxi firm for pick up. Out of airport 35 mins. Pedestrian crossing in set down/pick up area well marshalled at that time of night.Two of the marshals did not appear to speak English !!! Only downside taxi touts and unmarked taxis in pick up areas. The temporary foot ways and roadways leave a lot to be desired.
I use Menorca airport at least 3 times a year. Owned/operated by Aena. Very smart and efficient. If Luton is finished to the same standard I will be well impressed. Let's see the finished article before any more negative waves.
On a brighter note came through the airport Tuesday night 11.15 pm ish. The ground handling appeared to be one bloke. Had chocs on, front steps up , cones out and front steps up and door open in 5 mins, great worker. Immigration hall heaving. Went through auto gates in under 10 mins. 6 flights showing on info boards, not mine. Waited 10 mins cases through. Phoned local taxi firm for pick up. Out of airport 35 mins. Pedestrian crossing in set down/pick up area well marshalled at that time of night.Two of the marshals did not appear to speak English !!! Only downside taxi touts and unmarked taxis in pick up areas. The temporary foot ways and roadways leave a lot to be desired.
I use Menorca airport at least 3 times a year. Owned/operated by Aena. Very smart and efficient. If Luton is finished to the same standard I will be well impressed. Let's see the finished article before any more negative waves.
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Maybe constructor can answer this question.
I seem to remember that when the terminal and apron was dug out the soil was used to extend the taxiway at the 26 end. No doubt calculations would have been made to how much soil would be available. So is the reason why the taxiway didn't go to the end was that they did not have enough soil? Would this be the same possible reason why the planned taxiway extension at the 26 end will also not quite get to the end of the runway, as bringing in material from off airport to build up the land is very expensive?
I also wonder if having marshalling of a pedestrian crossing is the airports final and only solution to trying to keep the traffic moving in the drop off zone and through the rest of the airport. Make no mistake, this is already a major issue that will return next summer.
So the airport gains a nice new duel carriageway into, around and out of the airport, but as has already being witnessed, around 90 to 95% of all traffic heads into the drop off area so all this traffic needs to get into a single lane. Once in the single lane the traffic needs to get past the busy crossing point that has to be marshalled and that is the problem. This crossing point often marks the start of the traffic jams that even now in mid September means that traffic can still head down the hill towards Parkway.
What the dueling will achieve is that two lines of traffic will tail back towards the Ibis roundabout meaning that is will take longer for that roundabout to get gridlocked when the drop off zone gets clogged up but the end of the queue to drop off area times will remain around the same as all this traffic will still need to feed into a single lane.
I already came up with a radical solution of closing off the centre island, which would remove the crossing points and making the closed off drop off lane to that island a second passing lane for when cars double park, which they do despite there always being plenty of spare kerbsides available on the return leg.
I seem to remember that when the terminal and apron was dug out the soil was used to extend the taxiway at the 26 end. No doubt calculations would have been made to how much soil would be available. So is the reason why the taxiway didn't go to the end was that they did not have enough soil? Would this be the same possible reason why the planned taxiway extension at the 26 end will also not quite get to the end of the runway, as bringing in material from off airport to build up the land is very expensive?
Pedestrian crossing in set down/pick up area well marshalled at that time of night.Two of the marshals did not appear to speak English !!!
So the airport gains a nice new duel carriageway into, around and out of the airport, but as has already being witnessed, around 90 to 95% of all traffic heads into the drop off area so all this traffic needs to get into a single lane. Once in the single lane the traffic needs to get past the busy crossing point that has to be marshalled and that is the problem. This crossing point often marks the start of the traffic jams that even now in mid September means that traffic can still head down the hill towards Parkway.
What the dueling will achieve is that two lines of traffic will tail back towards the Ibis roundabout meaning that is will take longer for that roundabout to get gridlocked when the drop off zone gets clogged up but the end of the queue to drop off area times will remain around the same as all this traffic will still need to feed into a single lane.
I already came up with a radical solution of closing off the centre island, which would remove the crossing points and making the closed off drop off lane to that island a second passing lane for when cars double park, which they do despite there always being plenty of spare kerbsides available on the return leg.
Last edited by Spanish eyes; 18th Sep 2016 at 08:55. Reason: Factually incorrect statement deleted.
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Construction update
Work has just started again on a small section of road for the duelling of New Airport Way. No work on the embankment by the tunnel has taken place for a few weeks now. I have some doubts whether the dueling in and around the CTA will be completed by the end of the year as claimed by the airport as it is only 99 days to Christmas.
Sometimes even I get it wrong.
With more kerbing now going in it looks like the service road to the undercroft will be located between the fence and the drop off area. The ground that has been dug out looks like it will be pure airside and will accommodate the coach lane to get passengers to the south stands and part of the pier.
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The first part of the pier A infill on the upper level has received its glass.
Apart from the what has been mentioned above nothing else has changed since the last update.
Sometimes even I get it wrong.
With more kerbing now going in it looks like the service road to the undercroft will be located between the fence and the drop off area. The ground that has been dug out looks like it will be pure airside and will accommodate the coach lane to get passengers to the south stands and part of the pier.[/URLThe first part of the pier A infill on the upper level has received its glass.
Apart from the what has been mentioned above nothing else has changed since the last update.
Last edited by LTNman; 18th Sep 2016 at 17:41.
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Spanish eyes you are correct as to the tie in point of alpha at the 26 end. The designer will always look at the earthworks balance. What you dig you can reuse on site. To dispose of material off site can vary from £150 to £1000 per 8 wheel lorry load. Those figures depend on the type of material, what type of tip it goes to and how far is the tip. Those figures are a general guide. However if you have a large hole that needs filling you can charge the haulier for tipping a load of clean soil on your land. The price per load will depend on local conditions but as an average £100 per lorry. Many schemes have been self financing. You do need the correct pieces of paper in place to import material from off site locations. My memory of the ground profile at the 26 end is that there would be a steep slope from the extended taxiway. I seem to remember seeing a sketch some years ago showing Alpha crossing the runway at its present location and continuing on the south side of the runway to tie in at the 26 turning circle. The existing ground profile is much better on the south side. Anyone know what happened to that idea?
The issue of pedestrians and traffic conflict has been recognised for some time now. As you say it is not going away. Your idea of doing away with the island is certainly a solution even if it means losing half the parking spaces. You are also correct in the dual carriageway becoming a single lane car park road will lead to tail backs. I have advocated in the past to extend the bus lane all the way into the CTA. This would ensure the Thameslink buses would have a clear run along with the car park and staff buses not being delayed. If cars begin queuing they have the option of switching to variou other car parks.
The issue of pedestrians and traffic conflict has been recognised for some time now. As you say it is not going away. Your idea of doing away with the island is certainly a solution even if it means losing half the parking spaces. You are also correct in the dual carriageway becoming a single lane car park road will lead to tail backs. I have advocated in the past to extend the bus lane all the way into the CTA. This would ensure the Thameslink buses would have a clear run along with the car park and staff buses not being delayed. If cars begin queuing they have the option of switching to variou other car parks.
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Channel Islands
I thought EZY's new service to JER was originally slated as a year round service, yet I see it's due to end next month. Is this just a seasonal break, returning next spring or the end of the route?
Another thought, were Aurigny successful with their GCI route application and if so will it start next spring?
Another thought, were Aurigny successful with their GCI route application and if so will it start next spring?
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I have that figure in a development brief but I do wonder if that figure of 5 million was given out as a way to avoid a public inquiry. It might have been harder to avoid if a figure of 10-12 million was mentioned.
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The figure I remember being in the Contract brief was that these works are necessary to increase passenger numbers from 5 mil to 10 mil. However it was almost 20 years since I first read the documents and as that figure was of very little interest to me I may not be correct.
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easyJet launch their Lanzarote & Toulouse services tomorrow. The Lanzarote flight has 141 passengers booked which represents a 78% load factor. The Toulouse flight has a shocking 38 passengers booked which represents a 25% load factor!
Tenerife launches the next day and currently has 156 passengers booked which represents a 87% load factor. Other days in the week very similar if not worse.
The Canaries services will do well, but Toulouse is not looking good, forward bookings are shocking, which is not surprising coming in with a daily service and easyJet already operating out of Gatwick. Also Ryanair are commencing service to Toulouse from Stansted in November which makes me think that easyJet's Luton service was launched because of this. The daily service could have been utilised so much better IMO.
Tenerife launches the next day and currently has 156 passengers booked which represents a 87% load factor. Other days in the week very similar if not worse.
The Canaries services will do well, but Toulouse is not looking good, forward bookings are shocking, which is not surprising coming in with a daily service and easyJet already operating out of Gatwick. Also Ryanair are commencing service to Toulouse from Stansted in November which makes me think that easyJet's Luton service was launched because of this. The daily service could have been utilised so much better IMO.
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The Toulouse service is only daily for a few weeks until the end of October then goes four times weekly. We will see what happens when the ski season begins in late December regarding load factors.
