Brighton to Billingshurst - is it Valid via Gatwick Airport?

Hi,

I am looking to travel to Billingshurst from Brighton, and wondering if it is valid to travel via Gatwick Airport, or if it is only allowed to travel via Ford or Three Bridges. I am wondering as I wouldn't mind catching the Gatwick Express service, it is an "Any Permitted" ticket, but not sure on the validity.

I understand that there is an easement "700283" but I am mixed in the current validity of this, as it is not showing up as a valid route in any journey planner I look at, and trainsplit sells it to me as a split ticket.

Thanks for any help that can be provided

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Aug 2026 ==

The easement is 700282 I apologise I made a typo.

The easement text implies the journey should be allowed in my opinion, I think it's fine (frustrating for us residents of Crawley and Ifield who get excluded!)

The electronic configuration is the issue I think: https://enrgbrowser.com/easements/700282/2022-04-13

Billingshurst to Brighton is valid via Three Bridges because it's within 3 miles of the shortest route. It's not a mapped route (as the only valid routeing point is Ford not Horsham, and the only mapped route there is via the Coastway). Going via Gatwick is more than 3 miles over the shortest route so it's straight up not a permitted route - the doubleback easements can only override a route that is generally valid apart from a double call which isn't the case here.

For Horsham to Brighton, you do get the through fare, as Horsham is the routeing point, and the map for Horsham to Brighton covers the BML including up to Gatwick - the route would be permitted except the Three Bridges double call which the easement permits. Christs Hospital I'd expect the same though I haven't tested it, as both Horsham and Ford are valid routeing points from there.

Its an oversight with the permitted routes data from the stations that don't pass the fares check for Horsham in my opinion - there should be additional easements to override the fares check in these cases most likely and make Horsham a permitted RP as well as Ford.

Personally, from experience I wouldn't expect any trouble using it via Gatwick on the Gatwick Express, but I can't guarantee that of course. The easement would be pretty compelling to show anyone taking issue

I hope that makes sense, it was written while somewhat tired!

The easement would apply if travel via Horsham were permitted, unfortunately, for Billingshurst, travel via Horsham as a routeing point for travel to Brighton is NOT allowed under the fares check rule.

The new NRCoT 13.1.2 makes validity of routes depend on itineraries, so if you can get an itinerary via Gatwick on an online ticketting site like the railforums one, then buy it from there, it would definitely be valid.

Thank you all, I ended up buying Brighton to Christ's Hospital as TrainSplit was selling it to me as the full ticket.

Thanks both for your speedy and detailed responses it is much appreciated.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2026 ==

I only wanted it for a Brighton-Gatwick-Barnham-Brighton loop