Luton-10
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It has been reported from the horses mouth tonight that the Dart is expected to open around March 2022. On a more concerning note it was also reported at the same meeting that the testing of the Dart is not going well. It seems that the cable system that hauls the trains keeps dropping tension due to all the sharp twists and sharp turns resulting in it slipping off the cable guide wheels that are attached to the track. So far no solution has yet been found with the route being described as awkward. On a more positive note the Dart bridge LED lighting is now working again after a gap of around 2 months.
Last edited by LTNman; 2nd Aug 2021 at 19:04.
Join Date: Nov 2001
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DART - Direct Air Rail Transit now known as the Farcical Air Rail Transit - FART!
Oh dear, sounds like the design engineers were sourced from a primary school! You really could not make it up. FART has to work, simply due to the debt incurred by the town!
Oh dear, sounds like the design engineers were sourced from a primary school! You really could not make it up. FART has to work, simply due to the debt incurred by the town!
There now seems to be a regular armada for each overseas F1 grand prix. This last weekend has seen a couple of Titan Airbi, A Jet Netherlands Barbie jet, a CityFlyer LCY refugee, and the complete Aurigny jet fleet to/from Budapest.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Yes with Race Team bubbles this seems to be the normal currently. I think Farrari charter AZ equipment to/from Italy, a 125 seems to run out of Oxford and the F1 bosses 146 runs from Biggin.
Good business for Harrods FBO?
Good business for Harrods FBO?
Join Date: Apr 2020
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LTNman
Just read the press report. These comments have come from a Lib Dem councillor with an agenda and not the LLAL/Luton Council or the 'horses mouth' as you put it. I guess the test as to whether there is any truth to this is how quickly and strongly the council deny it.
Just read the press report. These comments have come from a Lib Dem councillor with an agenda and not the LLAL/Luton Council or the 'horses mouth' as you put it. I guess the test as to whether there is any truth to this is how quickly and strongly the council deny it.
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Man of little faith. The horses mouth was the CEO of LLAOL and not a councillor. The councillor who reported the issue at the same meeting did not report all the alleged facts and got some of his facts wrong. I was waiting for it to go public first before providing more detail here. That detail was never mentioned at the meeting.
The meeting is on YouTube. Suggest you listen from 7:50 as there is a presentation about the Annual Report for Luton Airport for 2020 with Q and A afterwards.
Some major BS from the planning officer who talks about all the road traffic that will cease as passengers migrate to the Dart. If true why is LLAL planning massive expansion of airport parking? Could it be because they won’t report that road traffic is expected to expand by 60% that travels to the airport despite the Dart.
The meeting is on YouTube. Suggest you listen from 7:50 as there is a presentation about the Annual Report for Luton Airport for 2020 with Q and A afterwards.
Some major BS from the planning officer who talks about all the road traffic that will cease as passengers migrate to the Dart. If true why is LLAL planning massive expansion of airport parking? Could it be because they won’t report that road traffic is expected to expand by 60% that travels to the airport despite the Dart.
Last edited by LTNman; 3rd Aug 2021 at 20:37.
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Yes, you are correct but you are splitting hairs, as it was the Operations Director who was the horses mouth. I stand by my comments about testing. I seem to remember you questioned my claim last year that the Dart was going to be delayed by a year to 2022 or was it that other non believer who lurks here?
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I'm afraid I misunderstood your original post and thought you were claiming that LLAL/Council had admitted the testing issues. I wasn't aware the opening date was such a big secret hence your revelation passed me by. Incidentally LLAL have now denied any issues with testing. Seems the opposition councillor was trying to make trouble where there is none.
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I stand by my statement. With 7 months until the planned opening of the Dart they have plenty of time to come up with a solution. As a side note I have also heard the 2 dart trains have been confined to barracks and are no longer running a test schedule at the moment. Coincidence?
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While clearly there are major issues which are the responsibility of the Council, the issues described with the operation of the system are entirely down to the designers and builders.
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The reason for 6 months of planned tests is to iron out problems except they have now allowed themselves 10 months of testing as the testing started maybe 3 months ago.
Worth a look at the twists and turns on this old video. To add to the mix the route climbs and then falls meaning the cables would need to stay under tension when the trains descend.
When the trains enter the tunnel the cable can be seen
Worth a look at the twists and turns on this old video. To add to the mix the route climbs and then falls meaning the cables would need to stay under tension when the trains descend.
When the trains enter the tunnel the cable can be seen
Doppelmayr have been around for over 100 years, and have done a huge number of rope based jobs since they set up. Maybe they have put less experienced engineers on their Luton job for now... but I would be inclined to have confidence that this will be fixed somehow.
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Maybe they need to build car parks close to Luton Parkway rather than at the airport, then force punters onto the DART.
Most travellers, I'd assume, will arrive LTN by car so if building car parks at the airport, then people will just not use the DART in the envisaged numbers.
Surely cheaper to have built a branch line from the main St.Pancras line into the airport. And yes, I know LTN is 500+ft above sea level.
Most travellers, I'd assume, will arrive LTN by car so if building car parks at the airport, then people will just not use the DART in the envisaged numbers.
Surely cheaper to have built a branch line from the main St.Pancras line into the airport. And yes, I know LTN is 500+ft above sea level.
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Positive thinking
For those of us who are positive thinking, I personally believe the airport will regain its popularity far quicker than expected. All those who are negative are in my personal view members of the anti airport growth brigade! Growth equals much needed jobs for today’s children tomorrow and negative views equates to selfishness because they already have achieved their goals. London Luton Airport represents prosperity not just for individuals but the local cities and towns and villages and hamlets that encompass the airport!
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North or South of the DART, not much space either side for a good sized Long Term Car Park but it will need one otherwise London commuters will get squeezed out of the existing car park, is it still run by NCP and monies go to Network Rail?