Luton airport has called for an express rail service to central London in a move it claims would create a £26.5 million a year boost to the local economy.
The airport along with Luton borough council (LBC) want the department of transport to introduce four fast trains an hour, up from the current one per hour.
Luton airport is the only major London airport without a dedicated express service.
The calls follow the publication of the Shaw report which asked for “greater local responsiveness” in the rail network.
Robin Porter, LBC’s director of commercial and transformation services, has said that without the increase Luton will be at a “significant commercial disadvantage in comparison to the other London airports”.
Nick Barton, CEO of Luton airport, said: “The Shaw Report makes clear that customers must be at the heart of the decision-making process within the rail industry. Committing to four fast trains per hour to Luton Airport Parkway through the new EMT franchise agreement would fit exactly in line with this ambition.
“We are currently investing £110million to transform the airport, increasing annual capacity by 50% by 2020. Improving rail connectivity to Luton Airport Parkway station would be a great example of joined-up thinking on transport and make a significant contribution to easing the current air capacity constraints across London and the South East.”
Luton airport saw passenger numbers grow by 16.9 per cent in 2015 and is currently investing over £110million to increase capacity at the airport by 50 per cent to 18 million passengers per year by 2020.
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