Luton DART
The Luton DART project is a joint venture project between VolkerFitzpatrick and Kier (VFK). This new state-of-the-art guided mass passenger transit system has transformed the area by linking the airport terminal building to Luton Airport Parkway station. Opened in late 2022, it has reduced journey time from central London to under 30 minutes and take travellers from Luton Airport Parkway station directly to the terminal of the airport in under four minutes. London Luton Airport currently caters for around 15 million passengers per year to over 150 destination across Europe, Africa and Asia and continues to expand it route network. The airport employs around 10,000 people and indirectly supports nearly 18,000 jobs, making it a major economic contributor to the UK.
Scope of work
The Luton DART (Direct Air – Rail Transport) project is a joint venture project between VolkerFitzpatrick and Kier ( VFK). VFK were contracted by Luton Rising to construct the new state-of-the-art £225m, 2.1km guided mass passenger transit system, linking the London Luton Airport terminal building to Luton Airport Parkway mainline station. The project forms part of Luton Borough Council’s £1.5 billion Luton Investment Framework to transform Luton and secure long-term economic growth benefiting local business and ensuring the local community have access to high quality employment opportunities. Once in operation, the driverless Luton DART will be capable of operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will drastically reduce travelling time.
The design, execution and completion of the Luton DART included seven main sections: the constructions of DART Parkway and Central Terminal stations, a 310m long eight span viaduct which runs adjacent to the existing rail line and features seven piers, a 750m stretch of running slab in cut and on fill running adjacent to the A1081, a 320 m-long double tunnel built along the route and the installation of an 80-metre long, 1,000 tonne curved bridge, which forms an integral part of the new Luton DART fast transit system.
Supporting the community
The Luton DART project has supported the economic development of the local area by committing to the following:
Construction Skills Training Hub - Delivering construction specific training opportunities to over 750 Luton residents;
- Provided up to 2 weeks relevant practical training to provide basic core skills that meet the needs of the industry;
- Provided training opportunities to those from hard-to-reach, under-represented and disadvantaged groups;
- Provided job opportunities, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities to those who successfully complete the training programmes.
- National Skills Academy for Construction
The project has created 500 construction jobs throughout the duration of the project including:
- Recruited 30 apprentices onto the Luton DART project
- Provided work experience opportunities for 25 people in education and 15 people outside education, training or employment including 78 new jobs for local people on the project
- Attended 30 students careers information, advice and guidance events
- Provided training and qualification interventions of over 250 sub-contractor workforce
The Luton DART will benefit not only airport passengers but also the people and businesses of Luton, in that it supports our ambitions to secure long-term economic growth and ensure local people have access to high-quality employment opportunities.
Cllr Hazel Simmons, Leader of Luton council
