Gatwick Airport Station

[387star]

I realize there is a relatively new platform at Gatwick but when do the major works there start? I am sure it secured funding along with New Street some years ago?

Possibly the worst Uk station design there is now? narrow escalators, confusing exits and a cramped dark concourse at a major UK airport

 

[JonathanH]

Work is underway to create a new entrance for platforms 5 and 6 specifically to separate off Gatwick Express services from the rest of the station. Hoardings have gone up near the escalator and staircase to the platform to allow this work to take place. There is some information about this work shown on posters on the hoardings.

There are longer term plans to do something better. According to http://www.gatwickobviously.com/news/gatwick-train-station-be-transformed-£120-million-upgrade that work starts in 2017 and ends in 2020.

Reading this - https://www.networkrail.co.uk/Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-March-2016.pdf - the widening of platform 5/6 would be part of the work and platform 7 was positioned to allow for that.

 

[och aye]

At least Gatwick Airport has a railway station, unlike GLA and EDI.

 

[HowardGWR]

At least Gatwick Airport has a railway station, unlike GLA and EDI.

Or Bristol or Newquay or Cardiff or Exeter or Bournemouth........ Also Gatwick is at least very conveniently situated, even if going to North terminal, as both travelator (spelling?) and shuttle are provided and South Terminal is adjacent.

More than a bit of a hike from those terminals to the actual aircraft though!:cry:

 

[Blamethrower]

Gatwick Express, not quite the elegant ueber-comfort that is the Heathrow Express is it?

So why does it need it's own platforms? Surely it's just a red southern train that goes to Victoria so why the investment?

 

[Deepgreen]

Gatwick Express, not quite the elegant ueber-comfort that is the Heathrow Express is it?

So why does it need it's own platforms? Surely it's just a red southern train that goes to Victoria so why the investment?

Exactly - ever more artificial fragmentation of services.

 

[swt_passenger]

One reason for the rearrangements of the platform use was so that terminating GatEx services stay on the fast side of the four track layout, and terminate between the up and down fast lines, removing a number of conflicting flat crossing moves.

The overall changes also allow for GWR to run more services into Gatwick.

 

[JB_B]

Work is underway to create a new entrance for platforms 5 and 6 specifically to separate off Gatwick Express services from the rest of the station.

Wow!

Last time I visited Gatwick (a few weeks back) it was in full "Welcome to Britain" mode - ie total chaos. The monitors were on a slow cycle between completely blank and obviously wrong ( trains from up to an hour ago listed as "on time") - platform staff doing their best but similarly without useful info - auto-announcers reeling off destinations for trains that had already departed.

The train service itself was semi-functional: it was possible to see useable services once they were arriving at the station but almost impossible to reach them because of the inadequate infrastructure for getting between platforms.

The idea that money should first be wasted on "brand segregation" instead of something worthwhile is just mind-boggling.

 

[N228PF]

I visited Gatwick Station the other day, after getting off a plane (a sensible reason to stop by). I had no trouble buying a platform ticket to watch a few new trains stop by, but I did get an odd look from the ticket clerk after forking over my 10p. The staton felt very cramped and cold. Not a very strong "Welcome to London". Would not be a fun place to wait for a delayed train.

 

[Bald Rick]

I think the OP is referring to the major station redevelopment, which has been bubbling around for a decade. The answer is that whilst the government pledged cash a few years ago (about 2-3 from memory) it is reliant on further funding from 'others'.

As far a so know the project is still in the development phase, which when complete will then enable the funders to thrash out a deal.

 

[yorksrob]

Isn't the problem with Gatwick (if it be a problem) the inevitable problem of trying to get large numbers of people onto island platforms ? You just can't fit that much escalator and staircase in the space available.

The concourse area over the tracks always struck me as adequate.

 

[Kite159]

Gatwick Express, not quite the elegant ueber-comfort that is the Heathrow Express is it?

So why does it need it's own platforms? Surely it's just a red southern train that goes to Victoria so why the investment?

So that the members in staff in red can stop anybody they think is using an incorrect ticket to use their red GTR trains, to protect the premium for the fresh air carriers which takes a minute (or two if you are lucky) less to cover the distance to Victoria than a GTR Green train.

Cue times where things go wrong on the Brighton Main Line and last minute platform changes.

 

[Master29]

Or Bristol or Newquay or Cardiff or Exeter or Bournemouth........ Also Gatwick is at least very conveniently situated, even if going to North terminal, as both travelator (spelling?) and shuttle are provided and South Terminal is adjacent.

More than a bit of a hike from those terminals to the actual aircraft though!:cry:

Hold on a minute. If your in Cornwall Newquay does have local stations. Newquay and Bodmin Parkway which are both "down the road" as the Cornish like to say. In rest of the country talk they mean about 6 and 18 miles respectively. A bit like Ryanair "local" airports usually being 50 miles from the intended cities.

 

[johntea]

I don't recall having too many issues at Gatwick station when I flew to Orlando, also the shuttle bus service was useful (I suppose slightly expensive for what it was, maybe they should permit a free/discounted ride for anyone showing a rail ticket) to get to my hotel of which there were plenty so it was easy to find a cheap room for the night too.

It wasn't as exciting coming back to it with post holiday blues but hey at least there was coffee available nearby

As a Northerner I had no real reason for the Gatwick Express, just jump on the Thameslink at St Pancras

In fact I would usually travel from Manchester and even that is travelator hell to get from the station to your seat on the plane so I didn't really notice any difference!

 

[cjmillsnun]

Gatwick Express, not quite the elegant ueber-comfort that is the Heathrow Express is it?

So why does it need it's own platforms? Surely it's just a red expensive southern train that goes to Victoria so why the investment?

fixed that for you

 

[CapitalStar378]

Or Bristol or Newquay or Cardiff or Exeter or Bournemouth........ Also Gatwick is at least very conveniently situated, even if going to North terminal, as both travelator (spelling?) and shuttle are provided and South Terminal is adjacent.

More than a bit of a hike from those terminals to the actual aircraft though!:cry:

What about Rhoose Cardiff Airport station? It's a short shuttle to the airport but is still a station, albeit with terrible frequencies for now.

 

[infobleep]

Incidentally the 17.59 to Ore leaves from platform 5, as do some other services. They most definitely are not Gatwick Express. The services from Brighton in the morning peak that use platform 4 and run non-stop to London Victoria are however!

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[Sunset route]

One reason for the rearrangements of the platform use was so that terminating GatEx services stay on the fast side of the four track layout, and terminate between the up and down fast lines, removing a number of conflicting flat crossing moves.

Actually the Gat-Ex terminate on the Down Fast line (plat 5) and the Reversible Loop (plat 6), platform 7 being the Down platform Loop. But I know what you were saying
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The days of dedicated Gat-Ex platforms has long since gone, throughout the whole 24hrs period I think we use every platform, with platform 6 used by the 1Dxx/1Uxx shuttles off peak and the Brighton extensions mainly using platforms 5 down 4 up, or any free platform in times of perturbation.

 

[Minstral25]

Gatwick is also a major interchange station for passengers off the Redhill Loop who want to go further South. There are a lot of passengers doing this. It's a nightmare place to interchange as you can't see what trains are leaving other platforms when you are on one waiting for your train, especially because they are so badly described on the indicators (without intermediate stations). So often your train will leave platform 4 when you are waiting for it on platform 1/2 without any useful information being given out.

 

[JonathanH]

If the timetable and track layout could be constructed in such a way that Gatwick Express have sole use of platforms 5 and 6 (apart from non-stopping trains southbound through 5), (almost) everything else uses 4 northbound and 7 southbound, 2 is kept for GWR and 1 and 3 are solely used for other services on the "Redhill loop", passenger activity would be much more straightforward.

It would be great to think that this could be achieved although it would seem that this may not be the best overall use of capacity with regard reoccupation of platforms 4 and 7.

 

[Sunset route]

If the timetable and track layout could be constructed in such a way that Gatwick Express have sole use of platforms 5 and 6 (apart from non-stopping trains southbound through 5), (almost) everything else uses 4 northbound and 7 southbound, 2 is kept for GWR and 1 and 3 are solely used for other services on the "Redhill loop", passenger activity would be much more straightforward.

It would be great to think that this could be achieved although it would seem that this may not be the best overall use of capacity with regard reoccupation of platforms 4 and 7.

The new P/way layout at Gatwick Airport works really well, it's just limited by lack lustre signalling and time table planning. One is easy to resolve the other will cost.

 

[infobleep]

Looking at the artist impression I remain to be convinced.

Is it standard practice to I Clyde I correct views in an artist impression. I can not relate the impression to how it will look at Gatwick.

The larger image is just blown up from the smaller one so loos blocky.

Also if they have dedicated entrances for Gatwick Express, how will passengers use that to Rea H platform 4 or any platform Gatwick Express goes from other than platforms 5 and 6.

Also how will Ore passengers reach platform 5 for the delayed 17.59 servicw and any other device to use that platform.

On a personal more I think they could do with some station loos that are well sign posted and better access to and from platform 7.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[ExRes]

A wonderful 'artists impression', I'd like some of what he/she's been on

While happily admitting I haven't been to Gatwick for 3 or 4 years, could someone tell me when they built those wonderful walls and the roof over the station?

 

[Kite159]

So basically if someone wishes to transfer between trains, say they have come from Dorking on the GWR and head to Brighton on the next available service which just happens to be the fresh air carrier, would they have to exit the platform area and re-enter via the "lounge", or will the entrance to those platforms still be available from the bridge over the platforms?

 

[infobleep]

So basically if someone wishes to transfer between trains, say they have come from Dorking on the GWR and head to Brighton on the next available service which just happens to be the fresh air carrier, would they have to exit the platform area and re-enter via the "lounge", or will the entrance to those platforms still be available from the bridge over the platforms?

What happens if they change the platform at the last minute?

How does it work for the other footbridge that doesn't include platform 7?

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[Sunset route]

Looking at the artist impression I remain to be convinced.

Is it standard practice to I Clyde I correct views in an artist impression. I can not relate the impression to how it will look at Gatwick.

The larger image is just blown up from the smaller one so loos blocky.

Also if they have dedicated entrances for Gatwick Express, how will passengers use that to Rea H platform 4 or any platform Gatwick Express goes from other than platforms 5 and 6.

Also how will Ore passengers reach platform 5 for the delayed 17.59 servicw and any other device to use that platform.

On a personal more I think they could do with some station loos that are well sign posted and better access to and from platform 7.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

I like the idea of dedicating platforms 5&6 to Gatwick Expresss when half the service comes up from Brighton and uses platform 4 lol

 

[Kite159]

What happens if they change the platform at the last minute?

How does it work for the other footbridge that doesn't include platform 7?

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

People rush to the footbridge which has access to platform 7 I guess, probably similar to Wolverhampton when a train is swapped to come into platform 4 instead of 3

 

[trainmania100]

Got told I needed written permission to take pictures or videos
The multiple times I've been there. Been put off going there for a few years.
Spent £10 on a ticket to Gatwick and had to go to a different station to get some pics

 

[Hophead]

I like the idea of dedicating platforms 5&6 to Gatwick Expresss when half the service comes up from Brighton and uses platform 4 lol

Presumably these will be redirected into platform 5 once the changes are complete

 

[Sunset route]

Presumably these will be redirected into platform 5 once the changes are complete

Up Fast to either platforms 5 & 6 is such a slow route to its not even worth thinking about unless it's for terminating a northbound train to send it back again or to work round any problem preventing the use of platform 4. But when the rebuilding work of Gatwick's concourse starts soon and loss of the island platforms happens these slow routes will have to be used, just in time for the new Thameslink tt