Editing Gatwick Express

{{short description|British high-frequency rail passenger service}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox rail company
|name=Gatwick Express
|image= Unit 387205 at Gatwick Airport.jpg
|image_size=250px
|caption= Two Gatwick Express [[British Rail Class 387|Class 387s]] at {{stnlnk|Gatwick Airport}} in 2018
|franchise=Gatwick Trains<br />28 April 1996 – 22 June 2008<br />Part of the South Central franchise<br />22 June 2008 - 25 July 2015<br />Part of the [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]] franchise<br />26 July 2015 – 31 March 2025<ref>{{Cite press release |title= National Rail Contract awarded to Govia Thameslink Railway |url= https://newsroom.go-ahead.com/news/national-rail-contract-awarded-to-govia-thameslink-railway |access-date=25 March 2022 |publisher=Go Ahead |date=25 March 2022 }}</ref>
|logo=GatwickExpress2016.svg
|logo_size=125px
|nameforarea=route
|regions=[[London Victoria station|London Victoria]] – [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport]]
|secregions=[[Brighton railway station|Brighton]]
|fleet={{ubl|[[British Rail Class 387|Class 387]]}}
|stations=7
|stationsop=1
|length={{convert|81.4|km}}
|abbr=GX
|parent_company= [[Govia Thameslink Railway]]
|website={{Official URL}}
}}
{{Gatwick Express}}
'''Gatwick Express''' is an express rail passenger service between {{stn|London Victoria}}, {{stnlnk|Gatwick Airport}}, {{stnlnk|Haywards Heath}} and {{stnlnk|Brighton}} in [[South East England]]. It is the brand name used by the [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] train operating company on the Gatwick Express route of the [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise]].

Trains have regularly served Gatwick Airport since the opening of its rebuilt [[Gatwick Airport railway station|railway station]] in May 1958. Prior to the 1980s, these services were relatively slow and without any particular priority; this led to the ''Gatwick Liaison Group'' advocating for a non-stop service to London during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Accordingly, during May 1984, the Gatwick Express service was launched using air-conditioned [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] carriages. [[British Rail]] operated Gatwick Express through to its [[Privatisation of British Rail|privatisation]] in April 1996, after which [[National Express]] took over operations under a [[Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain|franchising]] arrangement. One of the franchise commitments made by National Express was the replacement of the inherited [[rolling stock]] with new-build trains for Gatwick Express; this led to the introduction of the [[British Rail Class 460|Class 460 ''Junipers'']] during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In June 2008, Gatwick Express ceased to exist as a separate franchise; it was merged into the [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]] train operating company, although it continues to be maintained as a separate identity. Additional rolling stock in the form of the [[British Rail Class 442|442 (5WES) ''Wessex Electrics'']] were introduced. However, figures such as the Chairman of Gatwick Airport, [[Roy McNulty]], publicly criticised Gatwick Express, claiming its services to be overcrowded and the rolling stock outdated. In July 2015, Southern including the Gatwick Express service was merged into Govia Thameslink Railway. Since January 2016, both [[Oyster card]]s and [[contactless payment]] cards have been accepted for travel between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport. The introduction of {{brc|387||2}}s during the 2010s was objected to by the [[Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen]] (ASLEF) [[trade union]], but the dispute was later resolved.

All Gatwick Express services were suspended on 30 March 2020 as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Limited services resumed briefly during December 2021, but were suspended again only weeks later due to redevelopment works at [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport station]] as well as COVID-related factors. A reduced service of two trains per hour resumed on 3 April 2022; full service cannot resume until work at the airport station is complete.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

== History ==
===Background===
During the early 1950s, Gatwick Airport expanded substantially, leading to [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick railway station]] being rebuilt and integrated into the airport's terminal via an upper level concourse designed by [[Southern Region of British Railways|British Rail Southern Region]]. On 27 May 1958, the rebuilt station, ''Gatwick Airport'', opened with a regular train service.<ref name = "airport hist">{{cite web |url = https://www.gatwickairport.com/company/about-us/our-history.html |title = Our History |publisher = Gatwick Airport |access-date = 1 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = New Southern Region Station for Gatwick Airport |magazine = Railway Magazine |date = July 1958 |pages = 489–491}}</ref> Initially, the rail service was provided entirely by standard London to [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]] stopping services; however, more trains began to call with the introduction of the summer timetable in June 1958. One of the key elements of this expanded service was the extension of [[Three Bridges railway station|Three Bridges]] to [[Bognor Regis railway station|Bognor Regis]] stopping services to start and terminate at [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]]. These trains would run through a reversible platform at Gatwick where a portion would detach and wait in the platform for passengers until the next up train from Bognor Regis was attached and the train would depart for Victoria. For this service [[British Rail]] used a small batch of seven [[British Rail Class 402|Class 402 2HALs]] in order to work with the trains used on the Bognor Regis services, suitable for airport link use because of their larger luggage space.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

This situation lasted until the early 1970s when increased passenger and luggage travel to the station was rendering the old system obsolete. British Rail therefore decided to adapt a number of [[British Rail Class 423|Class 423 4VEPs]] with increased luggage capacity (at the expense of fewer second class seats) and were redesignated as [[British Rail Class 423#4Veg units|Class 427 4VEGs]]. The service however remained much the same, with the units attaching and detaching from Bognor Regis bound services running via [[Redhill railway station|Redhill]]. This led to somewhat extended journey times which meant the service lacked any real purpose, as the faster services began calling at Gatwick Airport from the early 1970s, and made the option of travelling to Gatwick from London on the service lack appeal to those who knew better. At first the service from Bognor Regis, which by this stage only stopped at [[East Croydon station|East Croydon]], was branded ''Rapid City Link''.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

During 1975, [[BAA Limited|British Airports Authority]] airport director John Mulkern, [[British Caledonian]] Airways chairman Adam Thomson and British Rail's [[Southern Region of British Railways|Southern Region]] regional manager Bob Reid, formed the ''Gatwick Liaison Group'' to discuss matters of mutual interest. A subsidiary of this entity, the Gatwick Promotion Group, under the chairmanship of the airport's public relations manager David Hurst, was formed to market the airport. 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, for both domestic and overseas passengers.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} One of the first successes of the group was to persuade the British Rail board to redevelop Gatwick station by building a raft over the platforms, and this was opened by British Rail chairman [[Peter Parker (British businessman)|Peter Parker]] in 1980.<ref name = "rail tech">{{cite web |url = https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/gatwickairportstatio/ |title = Gatwick Airport Railway Station |website = Railway Technology |access-date = 1 July 2018}}</ref>

=== Express service ===
[[File:73 on Gatwick Express.jpg|thumb|73213 ''University of Kent at Canterbury'' on Gatwick Express duties in 1998]]
In May 1984, the non-stop Gatwick Express service began, using [[British Rail Class 73|Class 73s]] with [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2 carriages]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railexpress.co.uk/news/gatwick-express-celebrates-30-years |title = Gatwick Express celebrates 30 years - Rail Express Magazine |access-date = 29 July 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150926084655/http://www.railexpress.co.uk/news/gatwick-express-celebrates-30-years |archive-date = 26 September 2015 }}</ref> Later, the duties were taken over by [[British Rail Class 488|Class 488]] and [[British Rail Class 489|Class 489]]. A 30-minute journey time was advertised, although some journeys would take nearer 35 minutes, especially during peak hours.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

=== Privatisation ===
[[File:1995 gatwick express.gif|thumb|Original privatisation era logo from 1994]]
[[File:GatwickExpress.svg|thumb|Logo introduced by National Express and retained by Southern until 2016]]
Gatwick Express was the first portion of [[InterCity (British Rail)|British Rail's InterCity]] sector to be converted into a separate train operating unit, ready for franchising as a private business with the assets transferred to Gatwick Express Limited<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/02912338 |title = Gatwick Express: company no. 2912338 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072638/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/02912338 |archive-date = 4 March 2016 |publisher = Companies House}}</ref> in March 1994.<ref name="Vincent">{{cite book |title = The Intercity Story |last = Vincent |first = Mike |publisher = OPC Railprint |date = April 2004 |isbn = 978-0-86093-524-7}}</ref> The Gatwick Express franchise was awarded by the [[Director of Passenger Rail Franchising]] to [[National Express]] with the franchise starting on 28 April 1996.<ref name = "airport hist"/>

=== Operated by Southern ===
In April 2007, the [[Department for Transport]] announced that the Gatwick Express franchise was to be incorporated into the South Central franchise and the services transferred to [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03010919 |title = New Southern Railway Limited: company no. 3010919 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160813212309/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03010919 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |publisher = Companies House}}</ref> on 22 June 2008. This reorganisation was part of a plan to use Gatwick Express services to provide extra capacity on the [[Brighton Main Line]] south of Gatwick Airport.<ref name="bbc-remain">{{cite news |title=Gatwick Express service to remain |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6524763.stm |access-date=31 December 2009 |work=BBC News |date=4 April 2007}}</ref><ref name="goahead">{{cite news |title=Agreement to Amend the Gatwick Express and Southern Franchises |url=https://go-ahead.com/media/news/2007news/2007-06-19.aspx |access-date=7 February 2022 |publisher=Go-Ahead Group |date=19 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123151534/http://go-ahead.com/media/news/2007news/2007-06-19.aspx |archive-date=23 November 2012}}</ref>

On 20 August 2008, the Department for Transport announced that [[Abellio (transport company)|Abellio]], [[Govia]], [[National Express]] and [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]] had been shortlisted to bid for the new South Central franchise.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.whitehallpages.net/news/archive/127489 |title=Bidders for South Central franchise announced |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 20 August 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102171718/http://www.whitehallpages.net/news/archive/127489 |archive-date=2 November 2013 }}</ref> On 9 June 2009, the Department for Transport announced that Govia<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06574965 |title = Southern Railway Limited: Company no. 6574965 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160413000255/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06574965 |archive-date = 13 April 2016 |publisher = Companies House}}</ref> had retained the franchise, beginning on 20 September 2009.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-06-09.aspx |title = Retention of South Central franchise |publisher = Go-Ahead |date = 9 June 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121123140524/http://go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-06-09.aspx |archive-date = 23 November 2012 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Operated by Govia Thameslink Railway ===
The Department for Transport confirmed prior to the awarding of the new franchise that the Southern franchise would be merged at its conclusion in July 2015 into the proposed [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]] franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-thameslink/thameslink-ojeu-notice.pdf |title = Thameslink Franchise: Official Journal of European Union notice |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130527143852/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-thameslink/thameslink-ojeu-notice.pdf |archive-date = 27 May 2013 |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 19 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://assets.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-23/consultation-thameslink.pdf |title = Consultation on the Combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120617070504/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-23/consultation-thameslink.pdf |archive-date = 17 June 2012 |publisher = Department for Transport |date = May 2012}}</ref>

In March 2012, the Department for Transport announced that [[Abellio (transport company)|Abellio]], [[FirstGroup]], [[Govia]], [[MTR Corporation|MTR]] and [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]] had been shortlisted to bid for the new franchise.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120329 |title= Bidders to oversee improvements on rail franchises announced |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 29 March 2012 |access-date = 24 September 2012 |archive-date = 25 September 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120925051042/http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120329/ |url-status = live }}</ref> The Invitation to Tender was to have been issued in October 2012, and the successful bidder announced in spring 2013. However, in the wake of the [[InterCity West Coast]] refranchising process collapsing, the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] announced in October 2012 that the process would be put on hold pending the results of a review.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20121003a |title = West Coast Main Line franchise competition cancelled |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 3 October 2012 |access-date = 7 October 2012 |archive-date = 10 October 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121010151357/http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20121003a/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

With the last franchise expiring on 25 July 2015, the South Central franchise merged with the Thameslink Great Northern franchise to create [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]]. This is operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway]], which is also owned by Southern's parent company, [[Govia]]. The Gatwick Express brand identity has been retained. [[Oyster card]]s and [[contactless payment]] cards have been accepted for travel between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport since January 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/oyster-reaches-gatwick-as-shown-on-major-new-tfl-rail-map |title = Oyster reaches Gatwick, as shown on major new TfL rail map |publisher = Railtechnologymagazine.com |date = 8 January 2016 |access-date = 22 March 2017 |archive-date = 2 December 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171202194624/http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/oyster-reaches-gatwick-as-shown-on-major-new-tfl-rail-map }}</ref>

=== Suspension ===
On 30 March 2020, all Gatwick Express services were suspended until further notice under a reduced timetable rapidly adopted in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="resumption">{{cite web |last = Graves |first = Kieran |date = 1 December 2021 |title = Gatwick Airport: Brighton and London Gatwick Express train timetables as service returns after 21 months |url = https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/sussex-news/gatwick-express-winter-train-timetables-6286403 |website = SussexLive |access-date = 10 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = GTR announces further-reduced rail timetable from Monday 30 March |url = https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/govia-thameslink-railway/pressreleases/gtr-announces-further-reduced-rail-timetable-from-monday-30-march-2985517 |publisher = Mynewsdesk.com |date = 26 March 2020 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201129053344/https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/govia-thameslink-railway/pressreleases/gtr-announces-further-reduced-rail-timetable-from-monday-30-march-2985517 |archive-date = 29 November 2020 |access-date = 12 August 2020}}</ref> Some of Gatwick Express's [[British Rail Class 387|Class 387/2]] trains have been used by Southern on its [[East Coastway line|East Coastway]] services between {{rws|Brighton}} and {{rws|Eastbourne}}, {{rws|Hastings}} and {{rws|Ore}}, on some [[Brighton Main Line]] services between Brighton and {{stn|London Victoria}}, and on some [[West Coastway line|West Coastway]] services between [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]] and [[West Worthing railway station|West Worthing]]. During May 2021, nine Class 387/2s were transferred to [[Great Northern route|Great Northern]] as replacements for [[British Rail Class 365|Class 365]]s on services between {{rws|London King's Cross}} and {{rws|Cambridge}}, {{rws|Ely}}, {{rws|Peterborough}} and {{rws|Stevenage}}; six of these trains were then leased to [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] to cover for [[British Rail Class 800|Class 800]]s on services between {{stn|London Paddington}} and {{rws|Didcot Parkway}}.<ref>{{cite web |last = Holden |first = Michael |date = 13 July 2021 |title = Gatwick Express trains sent to Great Western Railway in wake of Class 800 cracks |url = https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/07/gatwick-express-trains-sent-to-great-western-railway-in-wake-of-class-800-cracks.html |publisher = RailAdvent |access-date = 25 October 2021}}</ref>

During December 2021, the Gatwick Express briefly resumed on weekdays only, but was suspended after only two weeks due to engineering works and COVID-related developments. On 3 April 2022, Gatwick Express services restarted under a seven-day timetable; however, only two services per hour were initially ran between London and Gatwick instead of four per hour as they were prior to the pandemic. Govia Thameslink Railway attributed the work to redevelop Gatwick Airport station for this cutback.<ref>{{cite web |date = 16 March 2022 |title = Gatwick Express: Non-stop train service to London resumes |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-60752293 |publisher = BBC News |access-date = 5 April 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title = Gatwick Express to resume non-stop services from next month – RailAdvent |url = https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/03/gatwick-express-to-resume-non-stop-services-from-next-month.html/amp |access-date = 8 June 2022 |website = railadvent.co.uk}}</ref>

== Services ==
[[File:2 Gatwick Express interior.jpg|thumb|Interior of a Gatwick Express branded Class 387]]
{{update|the out-of-date service tables|date=September 2024}}
<section begin="service-table"/>
Gatwick Express operates an express commuter and airport transfer service between [[London Victoria station|London Victoria]], [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport]], [[Haywards Heath railway station|Haywards Heath]] and [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]]. Between 6:00{{Nbsp}}am and 9:00{{Nbsp}}am on weekdays, northbound services call additionally at [[Preston Park railway station|Preston Park]], [[Hassocks railway station|Hassocks]] and [[Burgess Hill railway station|Burgess Hill]]. Services stop additionally at the same stations in the southbound direction between 5:00{{Nbsp}}pm and 8:00{{Nbsp}}pm.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last = Southern Railway |date = 23 May 2023 |title = Table R: London Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton (Gatwick Express services only) |url = https://timetables.southernrailway.com/api/index.php?page=pdf_v2&params=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 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230822123820/https://timetables.southernrailway.com/api/index.php?page=pdf_v2&params=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 |archive-date = 22 August 2023 |access-date = 22 August 2023 |website = timetables.southernrailway.com}}</ref>

As of May 2023, the off-peak Monday-Saturday, with frequencies in 'trains per hour' (tph), consists of:<ref name=":0" />
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Route || {{Abbr|tph|Trains per hour}} || Calling at
|-
| {{stn|London Victoria}} – {{rws|Brighton}} || 2 || {{rws|Gatwick Airport}}, {{Rws|Haywards Heath}}<ref name="tt184">{{NRtimes|May 2023|175|London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Haywards Heath and Brighton|Sussex}}</ref>
|}
On Sundays, Gatwick Express operates a half-hourly shuttle service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport only.<ref name=":0" />

<section end="service-table" />

=== Past services ===
From privatisation until December 2008, the service pattern was one train every 15 minutes non-stop between {{rws|London Victoria}} and {{rws|Gatwick Airport}}.

In April 2007, the Department for Transport announced that the Gatwick Express franchise was to be incorporated into the [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|South Central]] franchise.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.whitehallpages.net/news/archive/26530 |title = Agreement signed to amend Gatwick Express and Southern franchises |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 19 June 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102171503/http://www.whitehallpages.net/news/archive/26530 |archive-date=2 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2007news/2007-06-19.aspx |title = Agreement to Amend Gatwick Express and Southern Franchises |publisher = Go-Ahead |date = 19 June 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121123151534/http://go-ahead.com/media/news/2007news/2007-06-19.aspx |archive-date = 23 November 2012 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> as part of a plan to increase capacity on the [[Brighton Main Line]]. As a result, peak-time services were extended beyond Gatwick to/from {{rws|Brighton}} from December 2008, with northbound trains running every 15 minutes in the morning peak and southbound trains to Brighton every 15 minutes in the evening peak. This change doubled the number of London-to-Brighton express trains during peak periods. Additional calls were made at {{rws|Haywards Heath}}, {{rws|Wivelsfield}}, {{rws|Burgess Hill}}, {{rws|Hassocks}} and/or {{rws|Preston Park}}; the stopping pattern for northbound services was not regular but all stations received at least one train a day, while all services called at Haywards Heath; the southbound services were more structured, with all services calling at Haywards Heath and half-hourly services for Burgess Hill, Hassocks and Preston Park (no southbound trains served Wivelsfield).

As part of the December 2015 timetable, Gatwick Express began serving Brighton all day (except on Sundays), with half-hourly services in the off-peak and evenings (while the remaining services continue to terminate at Gatwick Airport). Unlike peak-time services, these call at no intermediate stations between Brighton and the airport. These services replaced the half-hourly "express" services operated by Southern (which did not call at Gatwick Airport).

In May 2018, the stopping pattern for peak-time services was changed: all calls at Wivelsfield and Preston Park stations were withdrawn, Hassocks is now served by all peak Gatwick Express services every 15 minutes, while Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath are served half-hourly (by alternate services) in both directions. Services to and from Preston Park were restored in May 2019, though, with half-hourly calls made by the same trains that stop at Burgess Hill.

=== Ticketing ===
London – Gatwick is one of the few journeys on the UK [[National Rail]] network for which tickets restricting travel to certain brands of service are available in addition to the option of standard inter-available fares for immediate travel as on all flows shared by different National Rail operators (although some restrictions may apply on cheaper tickets). Through tickets for which the [[Brighton Main Line]] is part of a permitted route are valid on the Gatwick Express service as with all other [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] services, the only exclusion being some tickets from London to stations south of Gatwick routed ''Not Gatwick Express''.

Historically, standard Gatwick Express services did not charge [[penalty fare]]s and permitted tickets to be purchased on board at no extra charge. Journeys to or from stations south of Gatwick were subject to penalty fares as normal.<ref name="SouthernGatExp">{{cite web |url = http://www.southernrailway.com/main.php?page_id=601 |title = Gatwick Extension |publisher = Southern railway |access-date = 23 December 2008 |date = December 2008 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="GatExpExtension">{{cite web |url = https://www.gatwickexpress.com/content.asp?pageid=118 |publisher = Southern |title = Gatwick Express – New Extended Service |access-date = 3 January 2009 |date = December 2008 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This rule applied to the six weekday services each way that start or end at [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]].
However, in December 2011 electronic ticket gates were installed at Gatwick Airport and London Victoria platforms 13 and 14 (where the Gatwick Express arrives and departs), meaning that tickets can no longer be bought on the train and must be purchased either in advance or at the station before boarding.<ref name="gatwickexpressticketgates">{{cite web |url = http://www.gatwickexpress.com/en/your-journey/station-improvements/ticket-gates/ |publisher = Southern Railway |title = Ticket gates – Gatwick Express |access-date = 14 March 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120307193702/http://www.gatwickexpress.com/en/your-journey/station-improvements/ticket-gates/ |archive-date = 7 March 2012 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>

London [[Oyster Cards]] and [[Contactless payment|contactless cards]] have been accepted for travel since January 2016 between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2015-11-13/oyster-cards-to-be-used-at-gatwick-and-surrey-stations/ |title = Gatwick and Surrey stations to accept Oyster cards and contactless payments &#124; Meridian – ITV News |publisher = Itv.com |date = 13 November 2015 |access-date = 22 March 2017 |archive-date = 16 November 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151116023538/http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2015-11-13/oyster-cards-to-be-used-at-gatwick-and-surrey-stations/ |url-status = live }}</ref> The fare is charged differently at the Gatwick Express gateline at London Victoria station compared to other platforms which Southern services use.

=== Performance ===
In May 2013, the Chairman of Gatwick Airport, [[Roy McNulty]], criticised the Gatwick Express service for its overcrowding and old rolling stock. He said that the train service sometimes "at times veers towards Third World conditions" and that it gives air passengers arriving in the United Kingdom a bad first impression of the UK, and called for major improvements. Southern responded by stating that it had provided some 20,000 extra peak-hour seats every week on the London-Brighton line.<ref name=mcnulty-thirdworld>{{cite news |last=Cecil |first=Nicholas |title= Gatwick Express 'veers towards Third World conditions' |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/gatwick-express-veers-towards-third-world-conditions-8623415.html |access-date=23 May 2013 |newspaper= London Evening Standard |date=20 May 2013 |archive-date=18 October 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131018105212/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/gatwick-express-veers-towards-third-world-conditions-8623415.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://centreforaviation.com/news/gatwick-express-at-times-veers-towards-third-world-conditions-gatwick-chairman-231999 |title= Gatwick Express 'at times veers towards Third World conditions': Gatwick chairman |website= centreforaviation.com |date=21 May 2013 }}</ref>

In August 2018, Govia Thameslink Railway was directed by the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] (an independent advertising regulator) to remove claims of a 30-minute journey time between London and Gatwick due to poor performance on the line.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/govia-thameslink-railway-ltd-a18-445296.html |title=ASA Ruling on Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd |date=1 August 2018 |publisher= Advertising Standards Authority |id= Complaint Ref: A18-445296 |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180801094529/https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/govia-thameslink-railway-ltd-a18-445296.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/eurostar-gatwick-express-advertising-standards-authority-claims-ps29-fares-train-times-a8471866.html |title= Eurostar and Gatwick Express ordered to change 'misleading' advert claims on price and journey times |newspaper=The Independent |location= London |first=Simon |last=Calder |date=1 August 2018}}</ref>

== Rolling stock ==
[[File:Unit 387204 at Crewe on 19th February 2016 05.JPG|thumb|Exterior of a Class 387 passenger carriage]]
[[Govia Thameslink Railway]] operates a fleet of Gatwick Express branded {{brc|387||2}}s which it received in 2016. GTR placed a £145.2{{nbsp}}million order with [[Bombardier Transportation|Bombardier]] for 27 sets of the type in November 2014 to replace the existing [[British Rail Class 442|Class 442 ''Wessex Electrics'']].<ref>{{cite news |title = GTR orders 27 new Class 387-2s to replace Gatwick Express fleet |url = http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Inbox/gtr-confirms-order-for-27-new-class-387-2s-to-replace-gatwick-express-fleet/90090 |access-date = 14 April 2016|work = Rail Technology Magazine |date = 18 November 2014 |archive-date = 23 April 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160423201102/http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Inbox/gtr-confirms-order-for-27-new-class-387-2s-to-replace-gatwick-express-fleet/90090 |url-status = live}}</ref>

The type underwent testing in July 2015,<ref>{{cite news |title = Gatwick Express Class 387/2 EMU on test |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/gatwick-express-class-3872-emu-on-test.html |access-date = 14 April 2016 |work = Railway Gazette |date = 23 July 2015 |archive-date = 14 October 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151014175915/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/gatwick-express-class-3872-emu-on-test.html |url-status = live}}</ref> and began to enter passenger service in February 2016.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news |title = First of 27 new trains starts running on Gatwick Express route |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-35688899 |access-date = 13 April 2016 |work = BBC News |date = 29 February 2016 |archive-date = 2 March 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160302232915/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-35688899 |url-status = live}}</ref> The new trains have 12 carriages compared with 10 for the Class 442, and also feature additional luggage space, [[Wi-Fi|wireless internet]] connectivity and passenger service updates.<ref>{{cite news |title = New Gatwick Express trains take off |url = http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2016/03/11-new-gatwick-express-trains-take.html |access-date = 14 April 2016 |work = Rail News |date = 11 March 2016 |archive-date = 19 April 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160419104456/http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2016/03/11-new-gatwick-express-trains-take.html |url-status = live}}</ref>

In April 2016, drivers belonging to the [[Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen]] (ASLEF) [[trade union]] refused to pick up passengers on the new Class 387 trains. The trains are fitted with "[[One-man operation|Driver-Only Operation]]" (DOO) capability, meaning that the driver closes the doors using CCTV and decides that it is safe to move off, rather than a guard. DOO had been used on the previous 10-car Class 442, but the union claimed that extending this to 12-car trains put too much pressure on the driver and was unsafe. In response, GTR took legal action, and the union ultimately dropped the claim.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/18/govia-thameslink-railway-gatwick-express-aslef-high-court |title = Govia Thameslink takes Aslef union to court over longer trains dispute |work = The Guardian |first = Gwyn |last = Topham |date = 18 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-36601301 |title = Aslef drops legal action and accepts 12-car Gatwick trains |date=23 June 2016 |work=BBC News |access-date = 21 June 2018 |archive-date = 1 December 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171201051828/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-36601301 |url-status = live }}</ref>

The Gatwick Express branded fleet is maintained at [[Brighton Lovers Walk Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot|Lovers Walk Depot]] with stabling facilities provided at [[Stewarts Lane]] depot. Some classified overhaul work has also been undertaken at [[Hornsey EMU depot and former steam locomotive shed|Hornsey EMU Depot]] taking advantage of the unit's dual voltage capability.

=== Current fleet ===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#f9f9f9;"
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Number
! rowspan="2" |Built
|- style="background:#f9f9f9;"
!mph
!km/h
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 387|387/2]] ''[[Bombardier Electrostar|Electrostar]]''
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Gatwick_Express_387210_,_Clapham_Junction_24.3.18.jpg|150px]]
|[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|110
|180
|18
|2015–2016
|-
| colspan="5" |[[File:Gatwick Express Class 387 Diagram.png|800px]]
|}

=== Past fleet ===
Until 1984 the service was operated by [[British Rail Class 423|Class 423 slam-door]] stock, coded 4-VEG (G for Gatwick).

From May 1984 [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2F]] stock released from [[Midland Main Line]] duties coupled to a [[British Rail Class 489|Class 489 Gatwick Luggage Van]] took over the services, hauled by {{brc|73}} locomotives.<ref>{{citation| journal=Rail Magazine |issue= 520 |date=17 August 2005 |page =6}}</ref>

A franchise commitment by National Express was the replacement of these with new stock, and eight [[British Rail Class 460|Class 460 ''Junipers'']] started to be delivered from January 1999. Because of reliability problems, some of the old stock remained in service until 2005.

To replace the last of the old stock, a pair of [[British Rail Class 458|Class 458 ''Junipers'']] were transferred from [[South West Trains]] for use as spares. They remained in their existing livery but with Gatwick Express branding and their seating was modified from high density 3+2 seating configuration to 2+2 configuration, some seating being replaced with luggage racks. However, these units never entered service and returned to South West Trains. The Class 460s were withdrawn from service in September 2012 to be merged with the mechanically similar Class 458 units used by South West Trains in order to provide more stock at peak times.<ref>{{cite news |title=SWT to merge Class 458 and Class 460 fleets |url=http://www.railexpress.co.uk/news/swt-to-merge-class-458-and-class-460-fleets |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505150646/http://www.railexpress.co.uk/news/swt-to-merge-class-458-and-class-460-fleets |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2016 |access-date=14 April 2016 |work=Rail Express |date=5 January 2012}}</ref><ref name="catch">{{cite magazine |last1=Foster |first1=Stefanie |title='Catch the train and you've caught the plane' |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/trains/new-trains/catch-the-train-and-you-ve-caught-the-plane |access-date=7 February 2022 |magazine=[[Rail Magazine]] |publisher=Bauer Consumer Media Ltd |date=18 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Unwanted, unreliable – but these trains are the answer |url=https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2013/04/20-unwanted-unreliable--but-these.html |access-date=1 February 2022 |work=Railnews |date=20 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330222450/https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2013/04/20-unwanted-unreliable--but-these.html |archive-date=30 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Gatwick Express service received 17 refurbished Class 442 ''Wessex Electrics'' from South West Trains from December 2008,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Class 442s receive an extensive internal refit before joining Gatwick Express |magazine=Rail |location= Peterborough |issue=606 |date=3 December 2008 |page=14 }}</ref> followed by a further seven through leases in 2009, after Southern retained the South Central franchise. The additional rolling stock allowed Southern to provide extra capacity on the Gatwick Express services extended to [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]]. The stock were replaced during 2016 by newly built Class 387/2s.<ref name="railfebdebut">{{cite magazine |title=Late-February debut for Gatwick Express Class 387/2s |url= http://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/2016/02/03/late-february-debut-for-gatwick-express-class-387/2s |magazine=Rail |location = Peterborough, UK |date = 3 February 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=First GatEx 442 sent off lease |magazine=Rail |issue=798 |date=13 April 2016 |page=30 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Class
!Image
!Type
!Number
!Cars 
!Built
!Withdrawn
|-
|[[British Rail Class 488|488/2]]
|rowspan="2"|[[File:8313 at London Victoria.jpg|100px]]
|rowspan="2"|[[British Railways Mark 2|Converted MK2 carriages]]
|10
|2
|rowspan="3"|1983–1984
|rowspan="3"|2005
|-
|[[British Rail Class 488|488/3]]
|19
|3
|-
|[[British Rail Class 489|489 (GLV)]]
|[[File:9107 at Wirksworth.jpg|100px]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|10
|1
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[British Rail Class 460|460 (8GAT) ''Coradia Juniper'']]
|rowspan="2"|[[File:460007 at London Victoria.jpg|100px]]
|8
|8
|1999–2001
|2012
|-
|colspan="5"|[[File:Gatwick Express Class 460.png|912px]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[British Rail Class 442|442 (5WES) ''Wessex Electrics'']]
|rowspan="2"|[[File:442411 Gatwick Express.JPG|100px]]
|[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|16
|5
|1988–1989
|2016
|-
|colspan="5"|[[File:Class 442 Gatwick Express Diagram.png|800px]]
|-
|[[British Rail Class 73|73]]
|[[File:73202 'Dave Berry', Lovers Walk 08-Aug-2013.jpg|100px]]
|[[Electro-diesel locomotive]]
|1
|
|1962, 1965–1967
|2019
|}

==See also==

* [[Heathrow Express]] 
* [[Luton Airport Express]] 
* [[Stansted Express]]
* [[Airport rail link]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |title = The Gatwick Express |first = Geoffrey |last = Tait |year = 1984 |publisher = G. Tait & Associates Ltd. |oclc = 60075526}}
* {{cite magazine |title = I'm the new Gatwick Express – Fly me! |first = Geoffrey Freeman |last = Allen |magazine = [[RAIL (magazine)|Rail Enthusiast]] |publisher = EMAP National Publications |date = April 1984 |pages = 12–14 |issn = 0262-561X |oclc = 49957965}}
* {{cite magazine |title = Gatwick Express orders new EMU fleet from GEC |pages = 6–7 |issue = 303 |date = 23 April – 6 May 1997 |magazine = [[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]] |publisher = EMAP Apex Publications |issn = 0953-4563 |oclc = 49953699}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Official website}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]]<br /><small>As part of [[British Rail]]</small>}}
{{s-ttl|title=Operator of Gatwick Express franchise
|years=1997{{ndash}}2008}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]<br /><small>South Central franchise</small>}}
{{s-bef|before=Gatwick Express<br /><small>Gatwick Express franchise</small>}}
{{s-ttl|title=Sub-brand of South Central franchise
|years=2008{{ndash}}2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Govia Thameslink Railway]]<br /><small>Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise</small>}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]<br /><small>South Central (incl Gatwick Express) franchise</small>}}
{{s-ttl|title=Sub-brand of [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]] franchise
|years=2015{{ndash}}present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{UK TOCs|current|state=collapsed}}
{{Transport in London}}
{{Govia}}
{{NEXG}}

{{Airport rail links in the United Kingdom}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Airport rail links in London|Gatwick]]
[[Category:Airport rail links in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Gatwick Airport]]
[[Category:Mobico Group]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Railway operators in London]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1984]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in England]]