CURRENT TRAVEL AND ACCESS INFORMATION



General Information:
The following information was gathered in March 2008, so please check for updates later.
It is easiest to travel from East Midlands airport to Loughborough. The second easiest would be from Luton airport which has a direct train to Loughborough.

In the UK, public transport (trains, buses etc.) are less frequent on Sundays.
Engineering work is often done at weekends, so some lines experience delays or do not run at all. Please check before setting off on your journey.
You can book train tickets 3 months in advance. The earlier you book, the cheaper the fare is. Check both one-way fare and return fare, since 2 one-way fares could be cheaper.
Coach means 'long distance bus' in the UK.

About Your Equipment:
On London Tube (London underground train):
Maximum length of a baggage is 2 meters, so a yumi is not officially allowed on board, and you may be disallowed journey by tube staff. If you do get on, the yumi will have to be held by hand diagonally across one end of the carriage.
On local Buses and Coaches:
If the bow is properly wrapped and protected (no sharp edges) it may be held in the area reserved for pushchairs.
On trains:
You may put a yumi in the overhead luggage rack in the compartment.

Useful Links:
General UK Travel Planning
Loughborough University
Imago (Loughborough University Conference Managers)
National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 or +44(0)20 78 5240 from overseas.
National Express (Coach) Enquiries: 08705 808 080
Trainline (Very useful site to purchase train tickets online)


Detailed Travel Information
Please click on the relevant links for detailed travel information from various destinations.
(1) Loughborough Train Station to Loughborough University Campus
(2) East Midlands Airport to Loughborough
(3) Luton Airport to Loughborough
(4) Heathrow Airport to Loughborough
(5) Gatwick Airport to Loughborough
(6) Stansted Airport to Loughborough
(7) Birmingham Airport to Loughborough
B. Sprint Bus: (operated by Kinch Bus)
    Cost: £1.30 one way
    Journey Time: 15 to 20minutes 
    Frequency: every few minutes
    Location: The Sprint bus runs can be picked up where the Airline Shuttle from East Midland         Airport drops off.




East Midlands Airport Information

A. Taxi:
    Cost: £19 from the airport to the campus
    Journey time: 20 to 30mins
    The taxis are operated by Checker Cars and are available 24 hours a day from the Taxi Office.
    Location: The Taxi Office is situated opposite the information desk in the terminal building.
    Bookings: 01332 814000 or bookings@checkercars.com

B. Coach: (operated by Skylink)
    The Airline Shuttle services will take you to Loughborough Train station, from which another bus     will take you to the campus.
    Cost: £2.10 single
    Journey time: about 30mins.
    Frequency: Twice an hour peak times. Timetable
    Location: directly outside the front entrance of the railway station. 


Luton Airport Information

A. Train:
    Take the shuttle bus from Luton Airport Terminal to Luton Airport Parkway.
    Journey time: 5 mins
    Costs: £1.50 for a single bus fare.
    Then take the direct train service from Luton Airport Parkway station to Loughborough.
    Frequency: every ten minutes between 5am and midnight.
    Journey time: 1hr15mins to 2 hrs.
    Costs: from £18 single ticket to £98 return ticket. 

B. Coach:
    Take bus to Milton Keynes Coachway. Change for a service to Loughborough. Expect 1 hour         transit time.
    Journey time: 3-4hours, so not recommended.
    Cost: £31.60 economy return and £34.50 standard return



     Airport Cars offer transport for 2-8 people from £36 to £69. Call 0800 783 728 to book.
    Airport Express offer transport for 8-24 people.

    b) Heathrow Express to Paddington station and minicab to St Pancras station
    Take the Heathrow Express to Paddington.
    Journey time: 15mins (23 mins from Terminal 4)
    Frequency: every 15 mins.
    Costs: One way express(standard) class ticket - £15.50 (£14.50 online, £17.50 onboard)
    Note:  You can travel on the Heathrow Express with the bows,  as long as there is                                       enough  space in the carriage for you to travel without affecting other passengers.
                If the train is busy please wait on the platform for the next train.
                If you have any problems on the day with the Heathrow Express please call:
                        Louise Feeney
                        Customer Relations Executive
                        Tel: 0845 604 1515
   
    Take the minicab from Paddington to St. Pancras.
    Addison Lee offers transport for up to 4 (£12.60) or 6 (£16.60) people.
    Call 020 7387 8888 or click here to book.

    c) Heathrow Connect to Paddington station and minicab to St Pancras station
    Take the Heathrow Connect to Paddington.
    This modern train leaves Heathrow from the same platform as Heathrow Express.
    Journey time: 25mins
    Frequency: every 30 mins weekdays and Saturdays, every hour on Sundays.
    Costs: Single fare-£6.90, open return-£12.90, day return-£11.90
    Take the minicab from Paddington to St. Pancras.
    Addison Lee offers transport for up to 4 (£12.60) or 6 (£16.60) people.
    Call 020 7387 8888 or click here to book.

    d) Tube (underground) from Heathrow to Kings Cross (5 min walk to St Pancras) 
    Journey time: about 1 hour
    Cost:£4 single
    Restriction: 2m maximum luggage length, so a yumi is not officially allowed on board.

B. Coach: 
    Take the National Express Coach to Leicester
    Location: follow the signs for the Central Bus station at Heathrow
    Journey time: about 2hr30mins
    Take the National Express Coach from Leicester to Loughborough
    Journey time: about 25 min
    Cost: Return fare £48.30 - One way £36.70

Gatwick Airport Information

A. Train:
    Take a First Capital Direct train to London St Pancras International
    Location: The Train station is adjacent to the airport.
    Frequency: every 30mins
    Journey time: 50 mins
    Then take an East Midlands train from London St Pancras International to Loughbrough
    Frequency: every 30mins
    Journey time: upto 1hr 40 mins
    Cost: open return ticket £50-£130

B. Coach:
    FlightLink  National Express to East Midlands Airport
    Cost: open return ticket £45
    Journey Time: 4 hours 20 mins
    Frequency: Twice a day (departing 0620 and 0950)
    Then follow directions from East Midlands Airport


Stansted Airport Guide

A. train:
    Change at Leicester station for Loughborough.
    Journey time: 3hrs30mins to 4hrs.
    Location: The airport railway station is situated below the terminal building
    Cost: £18-55 for a return ticket.
    Take the Cross-Country train service from Leicester to Loughborough
    Journey time: 2hrs 30mins to 3 hours
    Frequency:once an hour Timetable
    Take the East Midlands Mainline service from Leicester to Loughborough
    Journey time: about 10mins
    Frequency:3 times per hour Timetable


B. Coach:
    There is no direct service from Stansted to Loughborough.
    The two easiest routes are via Leicester and via London.
    Location: The coach station is between the Red and Blue short stay car parks and can be             accessed from the terminal building
    Route 1: Via Leicester:
    Take the JL767 service from Stansted Airport to Leicester  
    Frequency: 8 per day, once every 2-3 hours
    Journey time: about 3hrs 25mins to reach St. Margaret bus station in Leicester
    Take the 440 service from Leicester to Loughborough 
    Frequency: 7 per day, earliest 11:20am latest 7.50pm
    Journey time: 20 min, with 100 mins transit in St. Margaret bus station
    Cost: £39.80 for an open return

    Route 2: Via London Golders Green:
    Take the ABA4 service from Stansted Airport to London Golders Green
    Frequency: once every 15 mins.
    Journey time: about 40 mins
    Take the NX440 service from London Golders Green to Loughborough
    Frequency: once every 90 mins
    Journey time: about 2hrs 25mins with 45 mins wait at Golders Green
    Cost: £44.00 for an open return


Birmingham airport to Loughborough

Birmingham Airport Information

A. Train:
    Birmingham International railway station is directly linked to the airport passenger Terminals by         SkyRail.
    Cost: The SkyRail is free.
    Frequency: every 2 minutes (during the train station opening hours).
    Journey time: less than 2 minutes.
    From Birmingham International rail station, take a train to Birmingham New Street station.
    Journey time: 10 to 15 mins
    Frequency: six to seven trains every hour during the daytime. Less frequent in the evenings and     weekends            
    From Birmingham New Street, take a train to Derby
    Journey time: about 40 min.
    From Derby, take a train to Loughborough
    Journey time: about 20 mins.
    Cost:  £15 to £30 return ticket.
    Frequency: every hour

    Please note that from Birmingham International rail station, there are many routes to                         Loughborough. Each involves at least 2 changes.
    Journey time: 1.5hr to 2 hrs
    Please check on the site which route is the quickest.
    The quickest route varies depending on which day of the week you are travelling.

B. Coach:
    Take the FK210 service to Birmingham Central Coach Station
    Journey time:40 min
    Take the NX330 service from Birmingham Central Coach Station to Loughborough
    Journey time: 1hr 30mins with 45 min wait at Birmingham Central Coach station.
    Frequency: every 30-50 minutes.
    Cost: £10.90 for single, £17.40 for return