Shuttle bus to airports is launched

With the Docklands Light Railway extension to London City Airport in the Royal Docks, opened in December 2005, air travel for Wharfers has become far more accessible recently.
However, in terms of Heathrow the Jubilee line has been hard pressed to meet passenger demand at peak times and the east to west rail link Crossrail is at least 10 years away - so the shuttle could be good news for businesses in Canary Wharf.
Dot2Dot's on-demand shuttle service has been running in central London since November. With up to 10 people sharing the vehicle, it says there are benefits for the environment as well as the business community.
Business director Matthew Lovering said: "The shared ride idea is very well established in the States. Some 28 out of 30 airports there use this type of service but it's not something that's been used in the UK or Europe until now. Not only is it cheaper and more flexible than a taxi, it also means a smaller carbon footprint by taking traffic off the road."
Mr Lovering, 30, lives in Limehouse and is enthusiastic about the Wharf launch. He said: "We've been operating successfully in central London for three months and we identified Canary Wharf as the obvious place to move to next because of its hotel and residential sector. This is not just a hotel service - we'll pick up people from their homes as well.
"We're pleased to be coming to Canary Wharf because it will be the springboard to serve the rest of London."
Dot2Dot has made a big investment in the fleet of buses. These can carry up to 10 passengers, feature plush leather seats, tables and will all be fully WiFi enabled by the end of the year.
With 64 buses already in operation, rising to 83 by the end of April, there should be a frequent service.
"We don't have timetables," said Mr Lovering. "We have 15-minute pick-up windows but if the demand is for pick-ups every five minutes then that's what we'll have so there will be no waiting around. The only proviso is we want people to book at least two hours before.
"We'll help passengers plan their journeys by working out things like check-in time and traffic conditions to provide the best pick-up time for them. And because the shuttles are buses they can use bus lanes in London and on the M4, which also helps.
"We also send an automatic reminder call to passengers to make sure they don't miss their transfer by oversleeping.
"But if they do we'll have another one out to them shortly after. That's the advantage we have with a fleet of our size."
A return to Heathrow for one person costs £50 but discounts are on offer for larger groups, with a return for five people costing £180.
"The costs are significantly less than other road services," said Mr Lovering. "A black cab would cost around £80 for a one-way journey, while a private-hire car would be around £75.
"And although the Underground is cheaper it's not always the best option if you are carrying large bags or need to rely on the service. We believe Dot2Dot offers a balance of value for money and convenience, as well as being a genuine alternative."
For more information see www.dot2dot.com.