EMR Connect 1Y39 Train from London St Pancras International to Luton

Following a day out in London on the Crossrail Elizabeth Line, I booked my hotel outside of London at Luton as I had wanted to try both the East Midlands Railway EMR Connect train service using Class 360 Desiro EMUs and to stay at an easyHotel. With easyHotel prices in London high as usual for London prices, I decided to kill 2 birds with 1 stone by booking a stay at easyHotel London Luton with transfers by advance EMR Connect tickets.

London St Pancras International Railway Station

East Midlands Railway (EMR) departs from London St Pancras International Railway Station.

The main central tracks are now taken up by the international Eurostar service.

The platforms for East Midlands Railway trains are at the end.

The ticket concourse for domestic National Rail train services.

My East Midlands Railway EMR Connect 1Y39 train to Corby was departing from Platform 1.

Platforms 2, 3, and 4 are taken up by longer distance Class 222 Meridian DMU trains.

EMR Connect Siemens Desiro Class 360/1

My Class 360 Desiro EMU operating on my East Midlands Railway EMR Connect 1Y39 train from London St Pancras International.

This 8-car train is made up of 2 sets of 4-car trains.

The final destination of this East Midlands Railway EMR Connect train is Corby.

I took the front EMU in the 2-set formation.

The interior of the East Midlands Railway. Seats are laid out in a 3+2 configuration in a fixed forward and reverse airline-style seating.

More of the pair seating are airline-style.

Most triple seating are in facing bays, presumably for easier entry and exit from seats.

Similar to the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link Express Line sets, tip-up longitudinal seating is available by the toilet for wheelchair, standing, or bicycle space.

The wheelchair accessible available on board the East Midlands Railway Class 360 EMR Connect set.

The familiar Class 360 door on board.

EMR Connect route information is displayed above the train doors.

The front section behind the driver’s cab is a small ex-First Class section which is now declassified, and anyone can use it as a regular Standard Class seating area.

My East Midlands Railway EMR Connect 1Y39 Train departed from London St Pancras International at 3.44pm – 1 minute early.

Passing through Dock Junctions.

Heading through Belsize Tunnel.

The EMR Connect service operates like an “express” Thameslink out of London St Pancras International, with no stops made between London St Pancras International and Luton Airport Parkway.

Heading out of London.

Passing by the then-future Luton DART Luton Airport Parkway station.

Luton Airport Parkway Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Luton Airport Parkway Railway Station.

Change at Luton Airport Parkway Railway Station for the Luton DART to London Luton Airport.

It will be just a short hop over to Luton from Luton Airport Parkway.

Overtaking a freight train along the way.

Luton Railway Station

Arriving at Luton Railway Station.

My arrived at Luton Railway Station at 4.09pm – 2 minutes early.

The EMR Connect will continue on to Corby, where it terminates.

Heading out of Luton Railway Station. There is direct access to the street from Platform 5.

The façade of Luton Railway Station.

A bus interchange is located just outside Luton Railway Station.

Conclusion

EMR Connect was a cheap and fast way to travel from London to Luton with my Advance Single ticket. It was also nice to ride on the EMR Connect Siemens Desiro Class 360/1, the currently-last operator of Class 360 trains in the UK.