Among the improvements being made to enhance Gatwick Airport station's facilities, passengers can now benefit from fast, free, and reliable Wi-Fi.
The free Wi-Fi is an extension of Gatwick Airport's public Wi-Fi and provides seamless connectivity between the airport and the station concourse.
Other improvements to the station include 12 new customer information screens with a high-quality display that shows the next fastest train, platform number, stopping pattern, and train operator.
To help reduce congestion and improve passenger flow, three ticket gates with wider barriers have been installed at the station entrance.
Further upgrades underway at the station are:
- new station entrance,
- second concourse,
- wider platforms,
- eight new escalators,
- five new lifts,
- four new stairways.
Last April, a special assistance point was opened for those with reduced mobility, visual impairments, pushchair users, and travellers with luggage. The area has accessible desks, benches, and induction loops for those using hearing aids.
Katie Frost, Network Rail's Sussex route director, said: “Over the past few years, the teams have been really busy improving station facilities at Gatwick Airport station.
“It's great to see the wider programme of work coming together to upgrade the station, improve accessibility and create more space for passengers, making their journey from the train to the plane easier.
“The Wi-Fi will help passengers keep better connected and allow them to have a more relaxing and comfortable journey when heading to their onward destinations.
“Looking ahead, the project team are gearing up to reopen platforms five and six early next year, which have been closed since November 2020.”
David Stronell, station change manager at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) which operates Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink services at the station, said: “It's encouraging to start seeing the enhancements being made to the station through this project, including a new ticket retail space, the much-improved assistance point, and a larger concourse.
“We are now able to offer a seamless Wi-Fi experience from plane to train due to the great collaboration between GTR, Gatwick Airport Limited, and the project team. We would like to thank all our customers for their understanding while these much-needed works are undertaken and look forward to the opening of the new concourse in 2023.”
Michelle Stanton, Gatwick Airport's business change manager, said: “The installation ofWi-Fii as part of the Gatwick station project scope has been another real example of top-notch collaboration between the Gatwick station project, GTR and Gatwick Airport.
“With a combined focus on the passenger experience, the team has extended Gatwick Airport's public Wi-Fi into the station at concourse level. This ensures passengers arriving and departing by train have a seamless Wi-Fi service for the whole of their airport/station journey.
“The new Wireless Access Points (WAPs) installed by Gatwick Airport's IT team and using the GSP's cabling infrastructure are the first WAPs which will be connected to the Airport's brand-new WiFi controller.”
