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The autonomous light rail link being built to connect Luton Airport with Luton Parkway station has been delayed again.
The rail link, known as Luton DART, was originally due to open in 2021 but was pushed back to the end of 2022 following delays during incurred during the pandemic.
A spokesperson for airport owner Luton Rising has now announced that it will not open before the end of the year and instead is expected to begin operating in early 2023.
Construction costs for the project have risen from £225M to £261.7M, according to the council’s accounts for 2020/21.
Luton Rising chief executive officer Graham Olver said: “Testing of the system is significantly advanced, but there remain several important tasks that we’re working to complete with our partners.
“These relate mostly to complexities and alignment of the system’s revenue and ticketing arrangements. This will also allow us more time to complete all the regulatory, operational and health and safety testing.
“The Luton DART is one of the biggest infrastructure projects ever undertaken locally and will put our town and our airport firmly on the map for all the right reasons.
“It’s a vital investment which signals our commitment to the ongoing success of the airport for the benefit of our passengers, airlines and the people of Luton.”
Starting at a new purpose-built Luton Parkway station – which connects to the Network Rail station – the Dart will run on a 350m long viaduct, before transitioning to a 72m long, 1,000t steel truss bridge with composite deck that runs over a live dual carriageway.
The Dart then weaves its way past Luton Airport’s landing lights, through a 600m long cut and fill section before entering a 500m long concrete base trough section.
It then heads underground into a 350m cut and cover tunnel, which dips beneath the airport’s taxiway and into a new Central Terminal station, 20m beneath the airport’s current “drop-off” area.
Once operational, the Luton Dart will transport travellers from Luton Airport Parkway station to the terminal of London Luton Airport in under four minutes.
It will allow passengers to travel between St Pancras and London Luton Airport in just 30 minutes.
The project is being funded and delivered by Luton Council’s airport company, Luton Rising.
In addition to main contractor VolkerFitzpatrick-Kier, Tony Gee & Partners are acting as lead designer and lead geotechnical consultant with Coffey subcontracted as an additional geotechnical consultant.
The scheme design was carried out by Arup, and Doppelmayr Cable Car is supplying the cable-driven autonomous transportation system, which was selected for its low environmental impact.
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