Surface transport

Targets 2006/07:
To complete the construction of the Passenger Transport Interchange (PTI – bus and coach station) by 31 May 2007.
Performance against target: Target achieved

To introduce a real time information system to the bus and coach station by the time the PTI is open.
Performance against target: Some progress made

The issue

Stansted has the highest public transport mode share of any major UK airport and currently has the second highest public transport mode share of any major international airport in Europe. When the airport gained permission to grow to 25 million passengers a year, we agreed a target of 37% of journeys by non-transferring air passengers being made by pubic transport by 2010, with a longer term goal of 40%. We are currently achieving 40.2% which equates to about 8.6 million passengers a year.

The proportion of passengers using private cars has fallen from 52% in 2000 to 47.6% in 2006. However we recognise that emissions from road vehicles travelling to and from Stansted Airport have an impact both on local air quality and on UK emissions generally. Road congestion is also a concern for local residents.

Our approach

Our objective is to encourage the use of public transport by train, bus and coach, and at the same time minimise Stansted’s impact on the road network and to promote and develop public transport choice.

In November 2005 we published ‘A Surface Access Strategy for Stansted – Progress Through Partnership’ which detailed our surface transport targets and obligations. These include:

• Targets for increased use of public transport by air passengers;
• Providing facilities that encourage use of public transport; and
• Reducing single-occupancy car use by staff.

The full document can be found on our website, www.stanstedairport.com.

Our performance

Passenger Transport Interchange
Following extensive consultation with bus and coach operators and local authorities, the construction of the new passenger interchange began in summer 2006.

The waiting room opened for passengers in April 2007. Significantly larger than the facilities previously available, it is designed to offer public transport passengers equivalent standards of service to those currently experienced in the airport terminal environment.

Key facts about the new interchange include:

• Designed by world renowned architect Norman Foster;
• A full sustainability audit undertaken prior to construction;
• The new canopy is designed from 88 cushions of a product called ETFE, a recyclable, self-cleaning, non-corrosive material similar to that used in the Eden
  Project;
• ETFE is self cleaning and utilises solar shading;
• The ETFE canopy contains 16mm opaque dots which reduce natural light translucency by 50% and help reduce natural heat build up;
• All external lighting is operated by photocell control which monitors natural light levels and adjusts accordingly;
• It is a modular build that created less waste during construction and reduced disruption to passengers; and
• The clear canopy reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Work is still progressing with the real time information system, which will electronically display bus and coach scheduled departure times, to ensure compatibility with Essex County Council’s own real time information system. We expect this to be complete later in 2007.

Employee car use
Following the launch of the Stansted Site Travel Plan in November 2005, over 90 on-airport companies have signed up to the plan’s key objectives. In 2006 we launched the Airport Commuter team at Stansted who provide a travel plan service to all airport companies and advise staff on their travel options to and from work.

Use of both the Airport Travel Card and Stansted Car Share schemes has been above the target of 10% growth. Over 1,000 staff have an Airport Travel Card. An additional 60 car share bays were created and over 2,000 staff now car share saving an estimated 563,000km of work journeys, 45,000 litres of fuel and 108,000 kg of CO2 per month.

Bus and coach
Bus and coach services are increasingly popular and are being chosen in ever increasing numbers by air passengers travelling to and from Stansted Airport. In 2000, 7% of non-transferring passengers arrived and departed by coach. In 2006, this figure had risen to just over 16%.

During 2006, nine new or enhanced bus and coach services were introduced and there are now over 550 scheduled departures every day to 54 destinations across the UK, operated by nine different operators.

Following the introduction of bus and coach licensing in 2005, improvements in the environmental performance of vehicles are being seen, with the standard being set at Euro 3 rating. We are working closely with operators to raise this standard to Euro 4 and 5 levels. Each Euro level is the standard set by European Union emission regulations.

During 2006, passengers ranked the quality of nearly all the airport bus and coach services in the good to excellent category.

Cycling
The Stansted Area Cycling and Walking Strategy was published in November 2005 and during 2006 further cycling and motorcycling facilities have been provided. New cycle routes have been built from over 600 tonnes of recycled runway materials sourced from our runway resurfacing project in 2006.

Rail
Rail continues to be a key part of our transport strategy and we continue to do everything possible to promote all forms of public transport. As well as introducing better signage to the rail station, we are also replacing the escalators that link the terminal with the station. We are continuing to work with Network Rail to provide a new shelter for Platform 2 in the rail station, from which Central Train services arrive and depart.

Fly-parking
As a responsible airport company, we have recognised that there is a need to understand the impact we have on the local community. We condemn fly-parking in local towns and villages and recognise the disruption and inconvenience it can cause.

In 2003, we initiated a study to help us better understand those areas most affected by instances of fly-parking.

A telephone hotline was set up to enable local residents to report sightings. Results of the telephone hotline have shown that incidents of fly-parking are generally concentrated in the Bishop’s Stortford, Takeley and Stansted Mountfitchet areas. Essex County Council is currently developing a parking scheme for Takeley and Hertfordshire County Council is developing a scheme for two roads in Bishop’s Stortford.

As part of our Section 106 planning obligations we have provided £50,000 towards implementing appropriate fly-parking mitigation measures. The telephone hotline number to report fly-parking is 0800 731 2385.

Transport Forum
The Stansted Area Transport Forum has grown each year and continues to be one of the most active in the UK. The forum was set up in 1999 to establish a partnership approach to the way in which surface access to and from the airport, and within the surrounding area, could be improved. Over 70 organisations are represented at the forum including the Airline Consultative Committee, East of England Regional Assembly, Network Rail, Department for Transport and the Highways Agency. The working groups of the forum continue to develop initiatives.

Our plans

Our Airport Surface Access Strategy will continue to evolve and set challenging but realistic targets for passenger and employee use of public transport. We will also continue to deliver our remaining Section 106 planning obligations and to look at innovative ways of encouraging passengers and staff to use public
transport.

Targets 2007:
To achieve a 37% share of air passengers using public transport by 2010 and 40% beyond. To reduce the number of staff driving to from the airport by private car no more than 80% by 2010.

Data summary

Staff travel

Passenger travel