| Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by grahame at 08:09, 29th July 2026 |     |
From The BBC
An unauthorised car park near Stansted Airport has grown by nearly two-thirds since it was served with an enforcement notice to shut, a BBC investigation has found.
The facility was set up in early 2025 at New Farm, near the village of Elsenham, Essex, offering an alternative, cheaper option to nearby Stansted Airport.
The facility was set up in early 2025 at New Farm, near the village of Elsenham, Essex, offering an alternative, cheaper option to nearby Stansted Airport.
OK - that's an example of the very worst, but I would much rather leave my car at home and take the train and/or bus to the airport or seaport
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:08, 29th July 2026 | |
From The BBC
OK - that's an example of the very worst, but I would much rather leave my car at home and take the train and/or bus to the airport or seaport
An unauthorised car park near Stansted Airport has grown by nearly two-thirds since it was served with an enforcement notice to shut, a BBC investigation has found.
The facility was set up in early 2025 at New Farm, near the village of Elsenham, Essex, offering an alternative, cheaper option to nearby Stansted Airport.
The facility was set up in early 2025 at New Farm, near the village of Elsenham, Essex, offering an alternative, cheaper option to nearby Stansted Airport.
OK - that's an example of the very worst, but I would much rather leave my car at home and take the train and/or bus to the airport or seaport
I'd generally take a chance on the train/public transport to Heathrow as there are several fallbacks (Elizabeth Line, Picadilly Line, HEx, bus in extremis), but for any of the other airports it's simply too risky, and that's even before thinking about having to carry luggage around.
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:58, 30th July 2026 | |
.....but for any of the other airports it's simply too risky, and that's even before thinking about having to carry luggage around.
Do you really believe the public transport options for getting to/from Gatwick Airport are inadequate?
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by GBM at 08:01, 30th July 2026 | |
Living in the far West, unfortunately mostly it's a car.
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by grahame at 09:48, 30th July 2026 | |
Living in the far West, unfortunately mostly it's a car.
Indeed / I can sympathise. Newquay, Exeter, Bristol airports ... none has a rail connection. I still fancy the idea - pink flying elephant time - of the Strawberry line re-opening to Wrington and then extending into an underground station at Lulsgate / Bristol Airport. Four trains an hour - to Cornwall (Falmouth?), to Cardiff via Bristol, to Minehead via Taunton, and to Swindon via Bath Spa.
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by GBM at 11:59, 30th July 2026 | |
Four trains an hour - to Cornwall (Falmouth?),
My memory tells me there used to be a Summer Saturday Falmouth - Paddington (& return) express.
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by Witham Bobby at 17:00, 30th July 2026 | |
Four trains an hour - to Cornwall (Falmouth?),
My memory tells me there used to be a Summer Saturday Falmouth - Paddington (& return) express.
There was. It was still I thing in summer 1975, I feel sure. I signalled the down service at Bruton 'box, which was opened to reduce the section for all the extra trains on Saturdays in summer, but, by then, mostly was switched-out
EDIT TO ADD
This service came to an end after the 1979 summer timetable, I've found out with a bit of Grok's help
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by eXPassenger at 18:28, 30th July 2026 | |
Living in the far West, unfortunately mostly it's a car.
Indeed / I can sympathise. Newquay, Exeter, Bristol airports ... none has a rail connection. I still fancy the idea - pink flying elephant time - of the Strawberry line re-opening to Wrington and then extending into an underground station at Lulsgate / Bristol Airport. Four trains an hour - to Cornwall (Falmouth?), to Cardiff via Bristol, to Minehead via Taunton, and to Swindon via Bath Spa.
Wrington was on the Wrington Vale Light Railway which left the Strawberry line at Congresbury and went to Blagdon, it closed to passengers in 1931. Realistically a brand new railway from Yatton or Flax Bourton would be better, and cheaper, than trying to reuse this alignment.
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by Mark A at 19:20, 30th July 2026 | |
Four trains an hour - to Cornwall (Falmouth?),
My memory tells me there used to be a Summer Saturday Falmouth - Paddington (& return) express.
There was. It was still I thing in summer 1975, I feel sure. I signalled the down service at Bruton 'box, which was opened to reduce the section for all the extra trains on Saturdays in summer, but, by then, mostly was switched-out
EDIT TO ADD
This service came to an end after the 1979 summer timetable, I've found out with a bit of Grok's help
Presumably the branch infrastructure wouldn't support it (in which case, if it would also provide other benefits, strengthen it). The railway should trial a daily Falmouth - Paddington service again. IEP 2 times 5 car set from Paddington - send the rear half to Newquay, the front 5 to Falmouth, and on the way back up, combine them again.
Mark
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by LiskeardRich at 20:37, 30th July 2026 | |
The only airport I’ve driven to in years is Gatwick. I paid £27 for 6 days parking last time with Purple Parking. Even with Fuel from Cornwall, and public transport couldn’t compete.
At Bristol the same parking would be in 3 figures. I think Bristol’s parking tariff is why the Flyer, Falcon and NX are so successful on their Bristol airport routes.
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:48, 30th July 2026 | |
Wrington was on the Wrington Vale Light Railway which left the Strawberry line at Congresbury and went to Blagdon, it closed to passengers in 1931. Realistically a brand new railway from Yatton or Flax Bourton would be better, and cheaper, than trying to reuse this alignment.
Even more direct - a new line from Nailsea & Backwell, up Brockley Combe.
CfN.
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by LiskeardRich at 17:30, 31st July 2026 | |
Wrington was on the Wrington Vale Light Railway which left the Strawberry line at Congresbury and went to Blagdon, it closed to passengers in 1931. Realistically a brand new railway from Yatton or Flax Bourton would be better, and cheaper, than trying to reuse this alignment.
Even more direct - a new line from Nailsea & Backwell, up Brockley Combe.
CfN.
Brockley Combe the place of nightmares. A38 closed, so I took a Falcon (49ft long, rear steering) up the a370 and in through Brockley Combe. Met a tractor and trailer rather awkwardly.
| Re: Getting to the airport - an advert for public transport! Posted by LiskeardRich at 22:47, 31st July 2026 | |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8ez2dx032o?at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_link_origin=BBC_BedsHertsBucks&at_campaign_type=owned&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_format=link&at_medium=social&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_id=E87F5A26-8CEC-11F1-919F-B27202F0E840&at_link_type=web_link&fbclid=IwdGRleATZ9p9wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7MadO-slTsiSMd0Cxfn_2lVuoRv_NrcYCFKQyW3xKxfkBGi3U6Mi9iRqq0rQ_aem_GalezK-ZDRhegjAlEEF-cg
Airport funds free bus travel to reduce congestion
Two people stand beside a large bus outside London Luton Airport. One person is showing something on a smartphone screen while the other person, who is carrying a backpack and holding the handle of a wheeled suitcase, looks at the device.
IMAGE SOURCE, LONDON LUTON AIRPORT
Image caption,
Passengers need to show a valid printed or digital boarding pass for a flight from London Luton Airport to the driver to qualify for free travel next month
ByMatthew Lockwood
Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
Published
9 hours ago
Holidaymakers travelling to one of the UK's busiest airports are being encouraged to leave their cars at home.
London Luton Airport (LLA) said it is funding free bus travel to the terminal from locations in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire during August, in a bid to reduce congestion and help families save money.
It is expecting its busiest August ever, with 1.9 million passengers - a 5% increase on last year.
Alberto Martin, chief executive of LLA, said: "This initiative demonstrates our commitment to reinvesting in transport options that benefit both our passengers and the communities we serve."
Some of the services taking part in the month-long scheme, external will run 24 hours a day.
LLA said the initiative complements the Department for Transport's free summer bus travel, external scheme for children aged five to 15 in England.
