View source for Luton to Dunstable Busway

{{Short description|Public transport system in Bedfordshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}

{{Infobox bus line
| logo            = File:Luton_busway_logo.png
| logo_width      = 100
| logo_alt        = Luton_busway_logo
| number          = Busway
| bgcolor         = <!-- background color for infobox title (hex codes need a '#', i.e. #00ff33 not 00ff33) -->
| titlecolor      = <!-- color of the title text (hex codes need a '#') -->
| box_width       = <!-- width of the infobox itself -->
| subheader       = Luton to Dunstable Busway
| operatorlogo    = <!-- operator logo (ex: Image_name.png) -->
| oplogo_width    = <!-- width of the operator logo image -->
| image           = File:Arriva bus at Stanton Road bus stop (geograph 3716836).jpg
| image_width     = <!-- width of the main image -->
| image_alt       = <!-- alternate text for main image -->
| caption         = Bus at Stanton Road bus stop, Luton
| system          = 
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| status          = 
| open            = {{Start date|2013|9|24| df=y}}
| close           = <!-- {{End date| YYYY| MM| DD| df=y}} -->
| predecessors    = 
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| night           = 
| routetype       = <!-- or |  routes = -->
| locale          = 
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| landmarks       = 
| termini         = <!-- used when route starts and stops at a single location, overrides the start and end parameters -->
| start           = [[Luton Airport]]
| via             = [[Luton]]
| end             = [[Houghton Regis]]
| length          = 
| stations        = <!-- Overrides stops if used -->
| stops           = <!-- Overrides stations if used --->
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| timetable_link  = [https://www.cbtravelchoices.co.uk/busway-1 CB Travel Choices]
| map_link        = [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c90f7b79b7d15642b0e55b9/t/67499af2e3507b134d093fd4/1732877042706/Busway+2024.pdf Route map] <!-- updated 2024 -->
| map             = [[File:Luton to Dunstable Busway route.png|200px]]
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| notes           = <!-- anything special in small font, centered at the bottom of the infobox -->
}}
The '''Luton-Dunstable Busway''' is a [[guided bus]]way system in [[Bedfordshire]], England, which connects the towns of [[Dunstable]], [[Houghton Regis]] and [[Luton]] with [[Luton Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-24224674|title=Luton and Dunstable guided busway 'good for economy'|publisher=BBC|date=24 September 2013|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref> It was built on the route of a [[Abandoned railway|disused railway track]] and opened in September 2013. The busway runs parallel to the [[A505]] (Dunstable Road) and A5065 (Hatters Way) for {{convert|13.4|km}}, of which {{convert|7.7|km}} is guided track with a maximum speed of 50&nbsp;mph. It is claimed to be the second longest busway in the world.<ref name="bbc-aug-2013">{{cite news|title=Delayed Luton-Dunstable guided busway opening announced|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-23808317|accessdate=28 June 2017|work=BBC News|date=23 August 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628094539/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-23808317|archivedate=28 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
Various studies had been carried out since 1989 which examined options for solving transit problems in the [[Luton/Dunstable Urban Area]], including [[British Rail]]'s [[Network SouthEast]] Plan published in May 1989.
[[Bedfordshire County Council]] considered a number of possible schemes, which involved reopening or repurposing the former [[Dunstable Branch Lines]], a disused railway line which had been closed to passenger traffic in 1967 under the [[Beeching cuts]].{{sfn|Buckledee|2014}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Holland|first1=Julian|title=Dr Beeching's Axe: 50 Years on : Illustrated Memories of Britain's Lost Railways|date=2013|publisher=David & Charles|isbn=978-1446302675|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zfJZcibqOa4C&dq=Luton%20to%20Dunstable%20Busway&pg=PA53|accessdate=28 June 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Disused Stations: Dunstable Town Station|url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/d/dunstable_town/|website=Disused Stations|accessdate=28 June 2017}}</ref> One proposal was re-opening the railway to create a [[branch line]] of the [[Midland Main Line]], to run [[Thameslink (route)|Thameslink]] [[heavy rail]] services from Luton to Dunstable. This electrified, single-track route would have presented several challenges, in particular the lack of connection to the main line at Luton, which would have necessitated the construction of a [[Flying junction|grade-separated junction]] to the south of {{rws|Luton Airport Parkway}}. An alternative heavy rail scheme was also evaluated, to reopen the line as a separate single-track route with [[passing loop]]s, operated by a [[Diesel locomotive|diesel-powered]] [[shuttle train]] service. Another proposal was to convert the line to segregated, twin-track [[light rail]] operation, with [[Street running train|on-street operation]] on extensions to Houghton Regis and to [[Luton Airport]].<ref name="business case">{{cite web|title=Luton-Dunstable Busway Major Scheme Business Case|url=https://www.luton.gov.uk/Transport_and_streets/Lists/LutonDocuments/PDF/Engineering%20and%20Transportation/busway/LDB%20Conditional%20Approval%20Case%20-%20April%202008.pdf|publisher=Luton Borough Council|accessdate=28 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628151259/https://www.luton.gov.uk/Transport_and_streets/Lists/LutonDocuments/PDF/Engineering%20and%20Transportation/busway/LDB%20Conditional%20Approval%20Case%20-%20April%202008.pdf|archivedate=28 June 2017|date=April 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=chick>{{cite web|last1=Chick|first1=Colin|last2=Dove|first2=Keith|title=Translink - Integrating Travel in Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis|url=http://abstracts.aetransport.org/paper/download/id/1908|publisher=Luton Borough Council|accessdate=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003314/http://abstracts.aetransport.org/paper/download/id/1908|archive-date=13 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{sfn|Beddall|2022|p=99}}

A guided bus scheme was also considered, which would involve lifting the railway track and converting the [[trackbed]] to a segregated guided busway. This proposal was found to have particular advantages: it would be cost considerably less than the rail-based schemes, and the ability of buses to leave the busway and join the existing road network at designated points would allow better transport penetration of suburban areas.<ref name="business case" /> In 1996, the guided bus scheme was selected as the most cost-effective option.{{sfn|Beddall|2022|p=99}}

Following local government reorganisation, the [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] of [[Luton Borough Council]] assumed control from Bedfordshire County Council in 1997, and took over the lead role in the busway project. A process of ongoing consultations, grant applications and a public enquiry delayed the project by several years.{{sfn|Beddall|2022|p=99}}<ref name="transportxtra">{{cite web|title=Luton-Dunstable busway gets ready to roll|url=https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/35631|website=www.transportxtra.com|accessdate=1 July 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701082115/https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/35631|archivedate=1 July 2017|date=5 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Luton Borough Council's early announcements for the Busway indicated that it would be designed as a [[bus rapid transit]] system named ''Translink Expressway'', operated with a fleet of [[articulated bus]]es of the [[Phileas (public transport)|Phileas]] type, along part of the former Dunstable Branch Lines.<ref name=chick /><ref>{{cite web|title=What is Translink Expressway?|url=http://www.translinkexpress.org.uk/what02.htm|website=Translink Expressway|accessdate=27 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030514185755/http://www.translinkexpress.org.uk/what02.htm|archivedate=14 May 2003|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> 

<gallery caption="Historical Busway route" mode="packed">
Dunstable Town railway station.jpg|Dunstable Town railway station in the 1900s, closed in 1965
Dunstable, The end of the line - geograph.org.uk - 145468.jpg|Disused railway near Church Street, Dunstable, prior to track removal (2006)
Luton, Hatters Way - geograph.org.uk - 193053.jpg|Disused railway track alongside Hatters Way at Clifton Road (2006)
File:Luton developments.svg|2009 map showing the planned conversion of the railway route (green) to guided Busway
</gallery>

After 20 years of planning, the Busway took three years to construct, at a cost of £91 million. It was originally budgeted at £51 million, but costs increased due to [[Utility location|underground utilities]], [[soil contamination]]  and the removal of [[Japanese knotweed]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Concern over rising Luton and Dunstable Busway costs|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-18364078|accessdate=30 June 2017|work=BBC News|date=8 June 2012}}</ref> Design and construction was carried out by [[Arup Group|Arup]] and [[Parsons Brinckerhoff]], including seven new bridges, and reconstruction of three bridges, bus stops and a new transport interchange at [[Luton railway station|Luton Railway Station]].<ref name="arup">{{cite web|title=Luton Dunstable Busway|url=http://www.arup.com/projects/luton_dunstable_busway|publisher=Arup|accessdate=30 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630132537/http://www.arup.com/projects/luton_dunstable_busway|archivedate=30 June 2017|language=en|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Beddall|2022|p=99}} The bulk of funding for the scheme came from the [[Government of the United Kingdom|central government]], with additional funds from [[Luton Borough Council]] and [[Central Bedfordshire Council]], with additional [[Town and Country Planning Act 1990#Section 106|section 106]] contributions from developers.<ref name="bbc-aug-2013"/> The Busway was opened 24 September 2013, five months later than scheduled, by [[Norman Baker]] MP, a Minister for Transport.<ref name="transportxtra" /><ref name="ITV">{{cite news|title=Luton Busway opens|url=http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2013-09-24/luton-busway-opens/|accessdate=3 July 2017|work=ITV News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703192916/http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2013-09-24/luton-busway-opens/|archivedate=3 July 2017|language=en|url-status=live}}</ref> The Busway took over approximately {{convert|7.7|mi}} of the former railway line. Some remaining sections of disused railway were converted into pedestrian and cycling [[rail trail]] routes, with [[National Cycle Route 6]] now following the line north-west between Dunstable and {{rws|Stanbridgeford}} (via the [[Sewell Cutting]] nature reserve), and a southern section between from Welwyn Garden City to Wheathampstead now forming the [[Ayot Greenway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wildlifebcn.org/reserves/sewell-cutting|title=Sewell Cutting|publisher=Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire|accessdate=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905154046/http://www.wildlifebcn.org/reserves/sewell-cutting|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="CMS">Countryside Management Service, [http://enquire.hertscc.gov.uk/cms/explore/cycle/welwyn.htm A Circular Ride from Welwyn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725084749/http://enquire.hertscc.gov.uk/cms/explore/cycle/welwyn.htm |date=25 July 2008 }}.</ref>

Two new bus stops were added to the Busway system in early 2016 to serve the [[Chaul End]] area of Luton and Townsend Farm Road, near Houghton Regis.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Trivedi|first1=Shruti Sheth|title=Busway to see improvements worth £800k|url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/transport/busway-to-see-improvements-worth-800k-1-7053162|accessdate=28 June 2017|work=Luton Today|date=6 November 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628105335/http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/transport/busway-to-see-improvements-worth-800k-1-7053162|archivedate=28 June 2017|language=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Busway to see £800k worth of improvements|url=http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/news/transport/busway-to-see-800k-worth-of-improvements-1-7053225|accessdate=28 June 2017|work=Dunstable Today|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628105533/http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/news/transport/busway-to-see-800k-worth-of-improvements-1-7053225|archivedate=28 June 2017|language=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Features==
<gallery caption="Busway infrastructure" mode="packed">
Luton & Dunstable Busway (geograph 3716893).jpg|The concrete [[rollway]] track
Luton & Dunstable Busway, Clifton Road stop (geograph 3716882).jpg|A stop on the Busway at Clifton Road
Guided Busway, Luton (geograph 3717750).jpg|Modal junction of concrete rollway and tarmac highway
20220607 Centrebus BU16UWN.jpg|Buses pass on the Busway alongside a pedestrian path
</gallery>
The {{convert|7.7|mi|adj=on}} guided section is a [[rollway]] built from concrete beams. Standard buses that have been fitted with two small guide wheels can join the track and travel along it at speeds of up to {{convert|50|mph}}.<ref name="arup" /> Because it is a segregated route, other vehicles are prohibited from using the Busway. "[[Bus trap|Car traps]]" have been installed near junctions with the public highways to prevent motorists from using the route.<ref>{{cite news|title=Motorist ends up on busway again|url=http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/news/transport/motorist-ends-up-on-busway-again-1-5920827|accessdate=29 June 2017|work=www.dunstabletoday.co.uk|language=en}}</ref>

==Services==
[[File:Northern Dunstable from the air (geograph 4547146).jpg|thumb|Aerial photograph of the Busway in Dunstable]]
[[File:BUS3WAY (14472053481).jpg|thumb|A Route C guided bus (registration BU53 WAY) operated by Grant Palmer in street running mode in Luton town centre]]
In accordance with the requirements of [[Bus deregulation in Great Britain|bus deregulation]], bus services on the Luton to Dunstable Busway are operated by private bus companies: [[Arriva UK Bus|Arriva]], [[Centrebus]] and [[Grant Palmer (bus operator)|Grant Palmer]]. Initially at peak times upon opening (services A, B, C, E), buses ran up to every seven minutes.<ref name="bbc-aug-2013"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Busway Routes & Destinations
!  colspan=2 | Route !! Start !! End
|-
|  style="background:#0071BC;"|&nbsp; || Route A|| {{rint|air|link=Luton Airport|size=16}} Luton Airport, <br> {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Transport in Luton|size=16}} Luton Station Interchange,<br>clockwise via <br> Dunstable, Houghton Regis, <br> [[Luton and Dunstable University Hospital|L&D Hospital]]
 || {{rint|air|link=Luton Airport|size=16}} [[Luton Airport]]
|-
| style="background:#F36F21;"|&nbsp; || Route B|| Downside, Dunstable || {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Transport in Luton|size=16}} [[Luton railway station|Luton Station Interchange]]
|-
| style="background:#A3238E;"|&nbsp; || Route C|| Beecroft, Dunstable || {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Transport in Luton|size=16}} Luton Station Interchange
|-
| style="background:#A3238E;"|&nbsp;|| Route CX||White Lion Retail Park, Dunstable || {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Transport in Luton|size=16}} Luton Station Interchange
|-
| style="background:#F36F21;"|&nbsp;|| Route E|| [[Toddington, Bedfordshire|Toddington]] || Luton Galaxy
|-
| style="background:#0071BC;"|&nbsp;|| Route H|| [[Thorn, Bedfordshire|Thorn]] || {{rint|air|link=Luton Airport|size=16}} Luton Airport
|-
| style="background:#A3238E;"|&nbsp;|| Route Hi|| Thorn, Bedfordshire|Thorn || {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Transport in Luton|size=16}} Luton Station Interchange
|-
| style="background:#A3238E;"|&nbsp;|| Route Jo|| Linmere, Houghton Regis || {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Transport in Luton|size=16}} Luton Station Interchange
|-
|style="background:#0071BC;"|&nbsp; || Route L|| Linmere, L&D Hospital || {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Transport in Luton|size=16}} Luton Station Interchange
|-
| style="background:#0071BC;"|&nbsp;|| Route X2||  {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Buses in Milton Keynes|size=16}} {{rws|Milton Keynes Central}}|| {{rint|air|link=Luton Airport|size=16}} Luton Airport
|-
| style="background:#0071BC;"|&nbsp;|| Route X3||  {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Buses in Bletchley|size=16}} Milton Keynes Central || {{rint|air|link=Luton Airport|size=16}} Luton Airport
|-
| style="background:#0071BC;"|&nbsp;|| Route Z|| {{rint|air|link=Luton Airport|size=16}} Luton Airport,<br> {{rint|gb|rail|link=Luton railway station|size=16}} {{rint|gb|bus|link=Transport in Luton|size=16}} Luton Station Interchange, <br> anticlockwise via<br>L&D Hospital, Houghton Regis, Dunstable|| {{rint|air|link=Luton Airport|size=16}} Luton Airport
|-
|}

==Incidents==
There have been incidents involving buses on the Busway, including a bus becoming accidentally "[[Derailment|derailed]]" from the concrete rollway, and buses moving at speed colliding with stationary buses.<ref>{{cite news|title=Luton Dunstable Busway: Passenger recounts horror crash|url=http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/news/luton-dunstable-busway-passenger-recounts-horror-crash-1-7439971|accessdate=6 July 2017|work=Dunstable Gazette|date=20 June 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Parris-Long|first1=Adam|title=Hero stops devastating crash on Luton-Dunstable Busway|url=http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/news/hero-stops-devastating-crash-on-luton-dunstable-busway-1-6886600|accessdate=6 July 2017|work=Dunstable Gazette|date=5 August 2015|language=en}}</ref>

A number of fatal accidents involving pedestrians have occurred on the Busway. In February 2019, a pedestrian was struck by a bus and later died of his injuries around 4:00{{nbsp}}a.m. near Hatters Way, and in January 2020, a 69-year-old man was hit by a bus travelling towards Dunstable at the Jeans Way bus stop, being pronounced dead at the scene.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maguire|first=Samar|title=Man dies after being hit by bus on Luton busway|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/bedfordshire-luton-busway-police-crash-15804746|work=Cambridge News|date=9 February 2019|accessdate=4 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Carr|first=Stewart|title=Man killed on Luton-Dunstable Busway|url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/people/man-killed-luton-dunstable-busway-1366297|work=Luton Today|date=15 January 2020|accessdate=4 December 2021}}</ref> Following an inquest into this accident by the chief coroner in January 2021, Luton Borough Council were condemned for the lack of safety fencing and signage that allowed the man to freely access the busway.<ref>{{cite news|last=Carr|first=Stewart|title=Coroner raises concerns over 'dangerous' Luton-Dunstable Busway after man's death|url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/coroner-raises-concerns-over-dangerous-luton-dunstable-busway-after-mans-death-3086009|work=Luton Today|date=5 January 2021|accessdate=4 December 2021}}</ref>

==Future expansion==
Local politicians in [[Central Bedfordshire Council]] and [[Luton Borough Council]] have remarked on the lack of connection to main line railway services at the western end of the busway, and have advocated extending Busway services to [[Leighton Buzzard railway station]], {{convert|5.8|mi}} west of Houghton Regis. This extension would provide interchange with [[West Coast Main Line]] rail services, and a link to Luton Airport.<ref>{{cite news|title=Top councillor looks at extending Luton-Dunstable busway to Leighton Buzzard|url=http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/news/business/top-councillor-looks-at-extending-luton-dunstable-busway-to-leighton-buzzard-1-3805989|accessdate=2 July 2017|work=Dunstable Gazette|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702151310/http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/news/business/top-councillor-looks-at-extending-luton-dunstable-busway-to-leighton-buzzard-1-3805989|archivedate=2 July 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Luton to Dunstable guided busway at 10 years: Has it worked? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-66812616 |website=BBC News |access-date=31 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250410171548/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-66812616 |archive-date=10 April 2025 |date=24 September 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Buses}}
* [[Busway (disambiguation)#Transport systems|Other busway systems]]

==References==

===Sources===
*{{cite book |last1=Beddall |first1=David|title=Luton's Transport: A Journey Through Time |date=24 October 2022 |publisher=Pen and Sword Transport |isbn=978-1-5267-5561-2 |page=99 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Luton_s_Transport/Ob5vEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA99&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}
*{{cite book|last1=Buckledee|first1=John|title=Dunstable Through Time|date=2014|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=9781445638263|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ayf8AwAAQBAJ&dq=Luton+to+Dunstable+Busway&pg=PT176|accessdate=28 June 2017|language=en}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.cbtravelchoices.co.uk/busway-1 Luton to Dunstable Busway official website]
* {{youtube|yYHQ394u5tA|Luton to Dunstable Busway}}

{{clear}}
{{UK busway}}
{{Luton}}

[[Category:Bus transport in England]]
[[Category:Guided busways and BRT systems in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Transport in Luton/Dunstable Urban Area]]
[[Category:Luton Airport]]