From Sunday, 3rd April, Gatwick Express is to resume non-stop services between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.
As the Covid pandemic took hold and passenger numbers at the airport fell, services were suspended on 30th March, 2020. Passenger numbers have now increased, and are expected to increase further when all travel restrictions are removed on 18th March.
Gatwick Express services were first suspended on 30th March 2020 and resumed on weekdays only from 12th December. 2021. However, services were curtailed again two weeks later due to Christmas engineering work and then the impact of the Omicron variant of Covid.
Although the service is timetabled to run seven days a week, weekend engineering work may affect this, and passengers should check ahead before travelling at http://nationalrail.co.uk.
From 3rd April, two Gatwick Express services will run every hour non-stop between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria. The service previously ran with four trains an hour, but the ongoing upgrade of Gatwick Airport station means there are not enough platforms available to accommodate them all.
Mondays to Saturdays inclusive, all Gatwick Express trains will run non-stop between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, then run non-stop to Brighton. On Sundays, trains will run between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria only.
Peak-time weekday services will also call at Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, and Preston Park.
Stephen MacCallaugh, General Manager, Gatwick Express, said: “We're absolutely delighted to bring back our non-stop Gatwick Express service from Sunday, 3rd April as we look forward to a busier summer season including for international travel.
“With more passengers now returning to Gatwick by rail and the South Terminal reopening, now is the time to get our service running again to support the airport and the economic recovery in the South East.”
Emma Rees, Head of Real Estate and Surface Access, London Gatwick Airport, said: “The return of Gatwick Express is great news and we're really looking forward to the completion of the upgraded railway station. People are flying from Gatwick in ever-increasing numbers and excellent rail links which have a dedicated service specifically for airport passengers are a vital element of our recovery and our link into central London and beyond.”
Hourly is not a great service. Clock face timetabled turn up and go min 4x per hour, ideally 6 per hour (even with some intermediate stops) would be more useful, avoiding the waste of waiting for an express.
That’s great news. And to bring back the other Class 387/2s that are on hire with Great Northern and GWR.
Plus as Govia Thameslink Railway is to end the TSGN franchise on the 31st March. Is Gatwick Express still going to be part of the Southern Rail franchise.