Arriva’s Luton Busway is commemorating 10 years since its inauguration.
The Busway, where buses benefit from a designated route separate from the general road traffic, is noted for dramatically reducing journey times. Specifically, the transit between Dunstable, Luton, and Luton Airport has witnessed a 50% reduction in travel time, according to Arriva.
The busway uses concrete beams for its guided section. Conventional buses have been modified with two auxiliary guide wheels for use on the track. The pathway retraces the Dunstable branch railway line, closed in 1989, and runs parallel to both the A505 (Dunstable Road) and A5065 (Hatters Way), stretching over six miles and also includes a direct bus link to Milton Keynes.
Arriva operates between 350 and 500 journeys on the corridor daily, catering to the needs of nearly 5,000 passengers. Over the last decade, the operator says the Luton to Dunstable route has transported over 20 million passengers.
Jon Evans, General Manager of Arriva’s Luton depot, reflects on the milestone: “As a former bus driver, I was really excited to drive on the busway, it is so different to anything else we do. Having to let go of the steering while the bus steers itself is such a counterintuitive experience, it is dauting at first but you soon get used to it.
“It’s a really successful route and takes two million passengers per year. We’re really proud to run our journeys on it.”
