Trains to Luton - Station Details and further Information on Luton Train Services
Luton train station is located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The station is near to the town centre, about three minutes' walk from the Arndale Shopping Centre. It is situated on the Midland Main Line and is operated by First Capital Connect.
It was built by the Midland Railway in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras. For some years it was known as Luton Midland Road to distinguish it from the earlier Luton Bute Street, built in 1858 on the GNR line from Hertford North to Leighton Buzzard.
In order to build the line a public area known as the "Great Moor" had to be built through. The remainder of the land was bought for development by John Crawley, who provided a replacement in what is known as the "People's Park." This proved a worthwhile investment because, as the town's staple trade in straw hats diminished as they went out of fashion, it was replaced by engineering works. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the population had nearly trebled, and the station had become an important stop for main line expresses. The station originally consisted of only 3 platforms before modernisation in 1937 saw an additional fourth station added then again in 1960 when a further platform was added for the suburban services to and from St. Pancras.
Upon the opening of Eurostar at St. Pancras International, through-fares to continental Europe were made available from Luton and 67 other UK towns and cities to Paris, Brussels and other destinations in France and Belgium.
The station is set for significant investment from both Network Rail and First Group to improve facilities for customers as well as creating longer platforms as part of the Thameslink programme.
Luton station is served by First Capital Connect and East Midlands Trains trains. From Luton, trains go north to Bedford, Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, and Sheffield amongst others. Southbound trains go to Luton Airport Parkway, St Albans, London, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Streatham, Wimbledon and Sutton. |