[Gatwick] Express: You must now buy tickets before boarding.

[Minstral25]

Same, every 15 minutes too, if you manage to miss it though, theres always the frequent "normal" Southern trains there too taking a couple of minutes longer.

But at least the Stansted Express stops at Tottenham Hale providing a useful service, GatEx just fills the line with empty trains. Time for GatEx to become a VIC-CLJ-ECR-GTW service and fill up with regular commuters or as suggested before extend South again adding a stop at ECR and take the pressure off the all day jam packed overloaded VIC-ECR and onwards trains.

 

[jon0844]

I was surprised that some of the evening stopping services were a couple of minutes longer to Victoria, given the fact there were a few stops.

I still took the Express, as I fancied some space to myself, even though it left 8 minutes after a semi-fast, so would have arrived earlier in London! I didn't realise that by walking through to the front of the train I'd see about 3 other people.

I have no idea how many people boarded after me, but for an 8-car set running at 2220, if there were more than 20-30 people I'd have been surprised.

The other thing is that the train really didn't seem fast at all, as I presume the paths see it have to sit behind other services? It even managed to arrive 1 minute down at Victoria!

 

[radamfi]

I was a regular Gatwick Express passenger about 10 years ago and I always used to get in the back coach (furthest away from Victoria) so I could have a coach to myself. This applied peak or off-peak. Sometimes I could have the back 3 coaches to myself (when it was a 460).

The Gatwick Express loses time compared to a normal train as it has to cross tracks to access platforms 13 and 14 at Victoria and platforms 1 and 2 at Gatwick. That sometimes means waiting outside the station to allow a train to get out of the way.

 

[jon0844]

I doubt you would need to use the back coach now to get a seat. I walked through and the front coach (in fact, the doors so far forward that to exit at Victoria you need to walk back!) was totally empty. The few people on the train had boarded at the bottom of the stairs and never bothered to walk along.

 

[pF]

People always add a good couple of hours before catching a flight

Yeah, right.

What is your authority for that bizarre proposition?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Yeah, right.

What is your authority for that bizarre proposition?

No authority needed, just common sense (hundreds of rail and airport leaflets advise leaving 60-120 minutes spare!).

 

[jon0844]

I don't leave it until the very last minute, or the last train I can safely get, but I don't get to an airport hours in advance either.

My bank account gives me travel insurance. I have no idea how it may or may not work for taking a train to an airport, given no TOC will pay for a missed flight, and maybe I'll ask one day. I would hope that they don't suggest a stupid safety margin of two or three hours, assuming you're already checked in.

Even if you needed to drop off a bag, I'd still say that you don't need to go overboard. If flying from Gatwick South, you can expect to clear security in about 1-2 minutes! It's unbelievable how quick it is there. So, from arriving at the terminal, I could be at my gate in about 10 minutes!

60-90 minutes would seem like ample time.

 

[pF]

No authority needed, just common sense (and what hundreds of rail and airport leaflets advise!).

What "leaflets advise" is not what "people" usually do.

ushawk's assertion that "People always add a good couple of hours before catching a flight" is a lazy asinine nugatory ipsedixetism and patently false.

 

[ushawk]

But at least the Stansted Express stops at Tottenham Hale providing a useful service, GatEx just fills the line with empty trains. Time for GatEx to become a VIC-CLJ-ECR-GTW service and fill up with regular commuters or as suggested before extend South again adding a stop at ECR and take the pressure off the all day jam packed overloaded VIC-ECR and onwards trains.

And as mentioned before, connections are a good thing as its more accessible - would also mean less people travelling from CLJ and ECR to Gatwick on Southern and FCC.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

What "leaflets advise" is not what "people" usually do.

ushawk's assertion that "People always add a good couple of hours before catching a flight" is a lazy asinine nugatory ipsedixetism and patently false.

Ill rephrase then - people should always arrive a good couple of hours before the departure to prevent a late departure, being late for check in etc etc - although not everyone of course does that and it is their own fault if they dont really, what i think anyway.

 

[jon0844]

What is a 'good' couple of hours. Is that a way of saying two hours, plus a bit extra to be on the safe side?

I went to Amsterdam on Tuesday morning. 0810 flight, so I got the 0539 train from St Albans that arrived at 0650. I could have safely opted to take the next one, getting there about 0710-0720 but chose not to (to be safe). I was already checked in and had hand luggage only.

I can't imagine what time I'd have needed to get up to get there 2-3 hours earlier!!

 

[ushawk]

Id do 2 hours myself, wouldn't do less than an hour and a half - I like being cautious

 

[jon0844]

We did get to Gatwick a lot earlier ahead of our flight to Las Vegas (and given the super fast security clearance, didn't actually need to!) but we wanted to take it easy, and have a relaxing time airside and having a good breakfast etc.

One factor was that I wasn't on my own - so it's a little less of a problem to hang around in an airport!

 

[thameslink2000]

This does seem quite an amusing situation.

Ticket gates installed at Gatwick Airport and the Gat Ex platforms at Victoria at considerable cost.

The obvious thing for Southern to then do is keep the gates in the open position and have a team of Gatwick Express liveried staff spread along the gateline performing the task of aforementioned ticket gates!

 

[londonbridge]

I've recently finished a temporary Christmas contract on the nightshift at the Parcelforce Gatwick depot. On the way in each evening I was arriving at the airport around 9.30,the gateline was always open and no sign of any staff. On the way home each morning though there were always staff on the gates checking tickets.

 

[DavyCrocket]

The gates at Victoria are now in use. One of the wide aisle ones was open with a GatEx person stood by.
You can no longer walk from platforms 15-19 to 13 and 14. You have to go via the main concourse. The escalators from the upstairs taxi rank to platforms 13 and 14 are currently closed (for refurbishment), not too sure on the stairs and lift. So whether there will be a gate here also.

Haven't got off at Gatwick this week so far. But last week I was chased by a GatEx person (who I didn't recogise and just had a hiviz on) for not showing my ticket. They were at the far left of the gates and I went through an open one further down.... They wanted me to walk to them. pah!

 

[TUC]

It would be a lot quicker to buy a ticket at Gatwick if they changed the TVM arrangements. There are separate queues for each TVM meaning that if you get stuck behind several tourists unfamiliar with them it can lead to significant delays. If a single queuing system was in force everyone could just go to the first machine that was free and speed things up considerably.

The other thing that would speed things up is to make the options on the TVMs much clearer. An attempt to buy a ticket from Gatwick to central London brings up a long list of options which might be praiseworthy in its completeness (although it isn't complete!) but it is totally unclear on which represent a basic single/return to London which is/isn't valid on Gatwick Express. Te number of tourists who stand there for several minutes totally baffled. I'd lie to think I know my way around he ticketing system reasonably well but I've had to stand and work out the different options on several occeasions.

Its just basic good customer care on these issues that could make the flow much easier and will be essential if tickets cannot be bought on the train

 

[Urban Gateline]

It would be a lot quicker to buy a ticket at Gatwick if they changed the TVM arrangements. There are separate queues for each TVM meaning that if you get stuck behind several tourists unfamiliar with them it can lead to significant delays. If a single queuing system was in force everyone could just go to the first machine that was free and speed things up considerably.

Agreed, but most of the Queueing is formed by the action of passengers, one starts the queue and the ones behind follow like sheep! What might work is if there was a maze queue system in place like some ticket offices have, then you'd be able to get to the next available TVM if you are next in line.

 

[pF]

What other special consideration do you believe we should be making for [late passengers]?

Who is this "we" of which you speak?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Who is this "we" of which you speak?

I suspect railway staff, or more particularly drivers.

 

[pF]

This does seem quite an amusing situation.

Ticket gates installed at Gatwick Airport and the Gat Ex platforms at Victoria at considerable cost.

The obvious thing for Southern to then do is keep the gates in the open position and have a team of Gatwick Express liveried staff spread along the gateline performing the task of aforementioned ticket gates!

This is exactly what is happening.

 

[thameslink2000]

Tonight we are down to 1 member of staff checking tickets covering the 6 or so open ticket gates at Gatwick.

Sounding quite irate that people were passing through the other open gates, rather than passing her so she could check the passengers tickets!

Good to see they are organised at Gatwick as always

 

[Deerfold]

Tonight we are down to 1 member of staff checking tickets covering the 6 or so open ticket gates at Gatwick.

Sounding quite irate that people were passing through the other open gates, rather than passing her so she could check the passengers tickets!

Good to see they are organised at Gatwick as always

Travelled from Blackfriars to Gatwick Friday morning and back to London Bridge last night. Didn't show my (return) ticket to anyone or have to put it through any gates.

 

[Urban Gateline]

I don't understand the logic of having ticket gates and then having them open with staff still standing there, it is so easy to train gateline staff so this should be done and the gates put into operation, if needs be, just have one gate "open" (WAG) with the staff member there to assist those having trouble using the normal gates. If all the gates are open it's an invitation for people just to pass through, and those without tickets can easily escape, madness!