Franchise(s):	Gatwick Express April 28, 1996 - June 22, 2008 Part of the South Central Franchise June 22, 2008 - September 20, 2009
Main Route(s):	London Victoria - Gatwick Airport
Other Route(s):	None
Fleet size:	8
Stations called at:	2
National Rail abbreviation:	GX
Parent company:	Govia (Go-Ahead Group/Keolis)
Web site:	www.gatwickexpress.com

Gatwick Express route map
London Victoria Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Express is a sub-brand of Southern railway. It offers a frequent shuttle service between Victoria station in London and Gatwick Airport in South East England. Image File history File links Gatwick_express_logo. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 714 KB)BR Class 460, no. ... is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Victoria station in London is a London Underground and National Rail station in the City of Westminster. ... Gatwick Airport (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) is Londons second largest airport and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow. ... Govia is a joint venture between Go-Ahead (65 per cent) and Keolis SA (35 per cent). ... The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UKs train and bus industries. ... Keolis is a French transport group based in Paris. ... Victoria station in London is a London Underground and National Rail station in the City of Westminster. ... Image File history File links Underground_no-text. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Gatwick Airport station is the railway station at Gatwick Airport that provides a direct rail connection to London. ... Southern is the latest name of the train operating company that took over from Connex South Central on the routes to South London, Surrey, and Sussex from Victoria and London Bridge. ... Victoria station in London is a London Underground and National Rail station in the City of Westminster. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Gatwick Airport (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) is Londons second largest airport and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow. ... South East England is one of the nine official regions of England. ...

Until June 2008, Gatwich Express was a separate train operating company (TOC) owned by the National Express Group, that operated the separate Gatwick Express franchise. Both the TOC and the franchise were axed on 22 June 2008, when the service was transferred to Southern. National Rail uses the BR double arrow logo National Rail is a brand name describing the passenger rail service previously provided by British Rail, the now defunct UK state-owned rail operator. ... National Express Group plc (LSE: NEX) is a UK-based transport group that operates airport, bus and rail services in the UK, the US and Canada, Australia, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe. ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Southern is the latest name of the train operating company that took over from Connex South Central on the routes to South London, Surrey, and Sussex from Victoria and London Bridge. ...

Service

The service is non-stop and runs every 15 minutes with an average journey time of 30 minutes. The firm operates eight Class 460 trains on dedicated services to the airport. Gatwick Express, unlike Heathrow Express, is part of the National Rail network. Class 460, no. ... Heathrow Express entering the Heathrow Central station Heathrow Express is a train service from Heathrow Airport to Paddington in Central London operated by the Heathrow Express Operating Authority; a wholly owned subsidiary of BAA. The service is not part of the National Rail system, despite part of its journey sharing... National Rail uses the BR double-arrow logo A typical National Rail station sign showing the double-arrow logo National Rail is a brand name of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). ...

An Express Class (standard class) Single ticket costs £16.90 (as of January 2008). This price is higher than those of the Southern and First Capital Connect stopping services, reflecting the non-stop service that the Gatwick Express offers. Passengers cannot travel on Gatwick Express using the Network Railcard discount. GBP redirects here. ... Southern is the latest name of the train operating company that took over from Connex South Central on the routes to South London, Surrey, and Sussex from Victoria and London Bridge. ... First Capital Connect is a train operating company in England that began its passenger operations on the National Rail network at 02:00 BST 1 April 2006. ... The Network Railcard is a discount pass introduced in 1986 by British Rail, upon the creation of their Network SouthEast area around London, England. ...

History

In 1975, the British Airports Authority airport director, John Mulkern, the chairman of British Caledonian Airways, Adam Thomson, and the regional manager of British Rail's Southern Region, Bob Read, formed the Gatwick Liaison Group to discuss matters of mutual interest. As a subsidiary of this, the Gatwick Promotion Group, under the chairmanship of the airport public relations manager David Hurst, was formed to market the airport. BAA Limited is the owner and operator of seven British airports and the operator of several other airports worldwide, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world. ... Livery of British Caledonian on an Airbus A310-200 circa 1984 British Caledonian Boeing 707 at Gatwick Airport June 1975. ... This article is about the defunct entity British Railways, which later traded as British Rail. The History of rail transport in Great Britain is covered in its own article. ... Southern Region may be: Southern Region, Malawi Southern Region of British Railways This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

One of the first successes of the group was to persuade the board of British Rail to redevelop Gatwick station by building a raft over the platforms and this was opened by the BR chairman, Sir Peter Parker, in 1980. Sir Peter Parker KBE LVO (August 30, 1924 – April 28, 2002) was a British businessman who served as chairman of the British Railways Board from 1976 to 1983 and guided the organisation through difficult times to the beginnings of the resurgence in train travel in the United Kingdom. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

It was a long term aim of the group to have a non-stop service between the airport and central London in order to counter the perceived distance from the capital both to the UK market and more especially to the potential passengers at the overseas destinations.

The first success was to brand the then current service which stopped at East Croydon as the Rapid City Link. This name was used as Adam Thomson strongly maintained that US passengers equated ‘express’ with buses.^{[citation needed]} East Croydon station is a railway station and tram stop in Croydon, 9. ...

However in 1984 the non-stop Gatwick Express service was started with ten units of reconditioned rolling stock with extra luggage space. A 30-minute journey time was advertised although it was recognised that some journeys would take nearer 35 minutes, especially in rush hours.

The first unit was taken on a promotional tour of the UK introducing it to travel agents in various centres, thought to be the first time a Southern Region train had travelled north. A visit to Scotland was ruled out because of union objections.^{[citation needed]}

The original services were formed with Class 73 rolling stock and Mk2 coaching stock with specially modified GLV (Goods Luggage Vans) to carry passenger luggage. Class 73, no. ... 489104 passing through Clapham Junction on 19th July 2003. ...

In 2006, following the introduction of the modern fleet, the final Class 73 service ran an evening service from London Victoria and back to mark the end of the era for these trains. Two examples of the Mk2 coaching stock previously used on the Gatwick Express service can be found at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre in Ruddington and a full length Gatwick Express at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. The latter train is hauled by a Class 31 Diesel Locomotive, painted in Gatwick Express livery. Class 73, no. ... To Nottingham and Sheffield Ruddington Ruddington north junction Asher Lane crossing Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre Gotham sidings and former branch Rushcliffe Halt East Leake Barnstone tunnel Stanford viaduct Loughborough Midland and junction Loughborough Gap Loughborough Central Quorn and Woodhouse Swithland Viaduct Swithland sidings and former branch Rothley Belgrave and Birstall... Ruddington is an English village situated five miles south of Nottingham in the Borough of Rushcliffe. ... Stations Wirksworth Idridgehay (proposed) Shottle (proposed) Duffield (proposed) - Transfer to main line services. ...

From the end of 2004 to 2006 there was controversy surrounding the service with some rail groups believing that Gatwick Express trains, which often run half-full (compared to the severe overcrowding on other services), made poor use of the limited capacity on some of the busiest train lines in the country. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) made proposals in the Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy for the Gatwick Express service to be incorporated into existing London to Brighton mainline services operated by Southern in an attempt to relieve commuter congestion. This idea was hotly disputed by the train operator as well as BAA, who feared that airport users would have to fight for space on the trains with commuters. Categories: Stub ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other places with the same name, see Brighton (disambiguation). ... Southern is the latest name of the train operating company that took over from Connex South Central on the routes to South London, Surrey, and Sussex from Victoria and London Bridge. ...

In 2005 a pair of Class 458 units, 458001 and 458002, transferred from South West Trains for use as a spare train if a 460 unit is out of action. They remained in South West Trains livery but with Gatwick Express branding. Their seating was modified from high density 3+2 seating configuration to 2+2 configuration, some seating was removed and replaced with luggage racks. However, these units were never called into service and have returned to operations with South West Trains. Class 458, no. ... South West Trains (SWT) is a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom, providing train services to the south-west of London, chiefly in Greater London and the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire and Wiltshire (the area largely covered before 1923 by the London and South...

Transfer to Southern

On 3 February 2006, the Department for Transport Rail Group (DfT), which took over the responsibilities of the SRA in summer 2005, announced that the service would be axed to free up space on the Brighton Main Line!^[1] Gatwick airport owner BAA campaigned to retain the dedicated airport link^[2] saying that 80% of respondents to an online poll favoured retaining the service, with backing from many airlines using the airport.^[3] Towards the end of 2006 the DfT embarked on a consultation exercise to examine the situation, offering four possible options - three of which would allow for some form of modified express service to be retained.^[4] A decision was made to keep the Gatwick Express and to expand the service to Brighton at peak times from December 2008. The Gatwick Express franchise ended on June 22, 2008, when the service was transferred to Southern.^[5] is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the transport network. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Brighton Main Line is the railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. ... BAA Limited is the owner and operator of seven British airports and the operator of several other airports worldwide, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world. ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Southern is the latest name of the train operating company that took over from Connex South Central on the routes to South London, Surrey, and Sussex from Victoria and London Bridge. ...

Initially, services will continue unchanged. In December 2008, Gatwick Express will be extended during peak times to terminate at Brighton, which will double the number of London-Brighton express trains. The extra capacity will be provided by leasing a number of Class 442 units that are not in use. The combined South Central/Gatwick Express franchise will end in September 2009, to allow the new franchise holder time to implement the major timetable changes planned for December 2009.^[6] The Gatwick Express retains its separate branding as part of the new franchise, similar to that of the Stansted Express within the Greater Anglia franchise. Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Brighton station concourse Brighton railway station serves the city of Brighton in Sussex, on the south coast of England. ... Class 442, no. ... Stansted Express is the direct train service linking central London (Liverpool Street station) to Stansted Airport, one of Londons major air hubs. ... One Railway (or simply One) is the brand name of London Eastern Railway Ltd, a British company which operates local, suburban and express services from London Liverpool Street in the City of London to East and North London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and East Anglia, otherwise known as the Greater Anglia...

Ticketing

London - Gatwick is one of few journeys on the UK National Rail network for which passengers are required to choose between different operators when buying tickets — on all other flows shared by different National Rail operators tickets for immediate travel are inter-available, although some restrictions may apply on cheaper tickets. Through tickets for which the London-Gatwick line is part of a permitted route are valid on the Gatwick Express, provided they are not endorsed "NOT GATWICK EXPRESS." Tickets from London to stations south of Gatwick generally bear this restriction. Passengers cannot travel on Gatwick Express using the Network Railcard discount for South East England. National Rail uses the BR double-arrow logo A typical National Rail station sign showing the double-arrow logo National Rail is a brand name of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). ... National Rail uses the BR double-arrow logo A typical National Rail station sign showing the double-arrow logo National Rail is a brand name of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). ... The Network Railcard is a discount pass introduced in 1986 by British Rail, upon the creation of their Network SouthEast area around London, England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

Rolling stock

Current fleet

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 73		electro-diesel locomotive	90	145	1	Thunderbird Locomotive	1984
Class 460 (8Gat) Juniper		electrical multiple units	100	160	8	London Victoria - Gatwick Airport	2000 - 2001

Class 73, no. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 650 KB)BR Class 73, no. ... An Electro-diesel locomotive is a special type of locomotive that can be powered either from an external electricity supply (i. ... Look up thunderbird in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Class 460, no. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 714 KB)BR Class 460, no. ... A multiple unit is a passenger train whose carriages have their own motors, either diesel (DMUs) or electric (EMUs), and do not need to be hauled by a locomotive. ... Victoria station in London is a London Underground and National Rail station in the City of Westminster. ... Gatwick Airport (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) is Londons second largest airport and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow. ...

Past fleet

Class	Image	Type	Built	Withdrawn
Class 73		electro-diesel locomotive	1962	2005
Class 458		electric multiple unit	1998	2005
Class 488		Converted Mark 2 coaches	1983 - 1984	2005
Class 489 (GLV)		electric multiple unit	1983 - 1984	2005

Class 73, no. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 650 KB)BR Class 73, no. ... An Electro-diesel locomotive is a special type of locomotive that can be powered either from an external electricity supply (i. ... Class 458, no. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 663 KB)BR Class 458, no. ... Trains of the Singapore MRT. EMUs are often used for rapid transit lines. ... Class 488/3, no. ... Download high resolution version (1280x960, 242 KB)BR Class 488/3, no. ... Mark 2A Tourist Standard Open (TSO) 5278 Melisande at Cheltenham Spa on 18th September 2004, whilst forming a charter service to Swindon. ... 489104 passing through Clapham Junction on 19th July 2003. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 682 KB)BR Class 489 no. ... Trains of the Singapore MRT. EMUs are often used for rapid transit lines. ...

Future fleet

Class	Image	Type	Built	Number	Introduced	Notes
Class 442 (5Wes) Wessex Electric		Electric multiple unit	1988-1989	17	June 2008	Currently stored at Alstoms Eastleigh Works with SWT. Moving to Southern in 2008

Class 442, no. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 668 KB) British Rail Class 442 no. ... Trains of the Singapore MRT. EMUs are often used for rapid transit lines. ... South West Trains (SWT) is a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom, providing train services to the south-west of London, chiefly in Greater London and the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire and Wiltshire (the area largely covered before 1923 by the London and South... Southern is the latest name of the train operating company that took over from Connex South Central on the routes to South London, Surrey, and Sussex from Victoria and London Bridge. ...

Performance

The latest performance figures for Gatwick Express services to be released by the ORR as of the third quarter of the financial year 2007/8 are 89.6% PPM and 90.8% MAA.^[7] These figures are slightly up on those of the same periods last year.

See also

• Heathrow Express
• Stansted Express
• Airport rail link
• Train-to-the-plane

Heathrow Express entering the Heathrow Central station Heathrow Express is a train service from Heathrow Airport to Paddington in Central London operated by the Heathrow Express Operating Authority; a wholly owned subsidiary of BAA. The service is not part of the National Rail system, despite part of its journey sharing... Stansted Express is the direct train service linking central London (Liverpool Street station) to Stansted Airport, one of Londons major air hubs. ... Londons Heathrow Express runs non-stop from Paddington Station to Heathrow Airport. ... Londons Heathrow Express runs non-stop from Paddington Station to Heathrow Airport. ...

References

This article refers to the news department of the British Broadcasting Corporation, for the BBC News Channel see BBC News (TV channel). ... The domain name bbc. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... BAA Limited is the owner and operator of seven British airports and the operator of several other airports worldwide, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article refers to the news department of the British Broadcasting Corporation, for the BBC News Channel see BBC News (TV channel). ... The domain name bbc. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article refers to the news department of the British Broadcasting Corporation, for the BBC News Channel see BBC News (TV channel). ... The domain name bbc. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article refers to the news department of the British Broadcasting Corporation, for the BBC News Channel see BBC News (TV channel). ... The domain name bbc. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the transport network. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

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Gatwick Express

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