What is it? Easybus was set up three years ago, taking passengers from central London to Luton airport. Its fleet now has 10 Mercedes minibuses, all 16-seaters. A week before my journey, I booked my Easybus ticket online (easybus.co.uk) at a cost of £5, but tickets are available from £2 if you book further in advance. Walk-on fares cost £8. The website emphasises that you must bring a printout of your ticket to show the driver, otherwise you will be charged again. Buses leave every half-hour from London for the one-hour journey.
First impressions I arrived at 0830 for my 0900 departure from bus stop 19 on Gloucester Place. Baker Street is the nearest Tube station. From here, walk west down Marylebone Road and Gloucester Place is the second road on the right. As I arrived, the orange and black-clad driver was closing the sliding door of the bright-orange minivan. I asked him if I could board this earlier bus (I was booked on the 0900) and he let me on, after checking my printed ticket. He told me that it's no problem to change which bus you want to board, as long as there is space available.
The journey There were only three other people on board, and I strapped myself in and settled back. The traffic in London was light on this Thursday morning and we were soon whipping round the North Circular towards the motorway. There was no air conditioning but the sun roof was open, and when we reached the motorway there was a cool breeze, which was a relief. About 10 miles before Luton, we encountered roadworks, where there was a 40mph speed limit for around 10 miles right up to Junction 10, the exit for Luton. The Highway Agency says this work will be completed by autumn 2008; Easybus seemed to have taken it into account as we were dropped off early outside the terminal building at 0919.
Verdict A hassle-free, no-nonsense service. Without the roadworks it seems the journey could be done in half an hour. If you are leaving from central London this may be quicker than taking the train, once you have taken into account waiting for a shuttle bus to take you to the the terminal from the train station. Visit easybus.co.uk.
Felicity Cousins
