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Gatwick Airport Station Problems: how to fix them?

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WizCastro197

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Hello
I visited Gatwick Airport today as I was required to change there for a train to Hove. When I was awaiting my delayed train as expected, Platform 4 was extremely busy. Passengers were screamed at to stand behind the Yellow line despite the horrendous narrowness of the platforms and the immense amount of passengers.GTW staff shouting at passengers that there was a train approaching even though it stopped some distance outside Gatwick behind a red signal. When Trains finally did approach they were told not to board which is very counter productive as are large influx of passengers is just going to keep coming and coming if you dont tell people to get on when the next one to Victoria is in 10 Minutes.

Victoria Services are often the large offenders in the capacity issue as not many people seem to be bothered about Thameslinks perhaps due to current disruption that is sort of ending I suppose or they all want Victoria and Clapham? Today I was on a 4 car Brighton-Victoria and as expected zoomed past standing room at Gatwick. One lady started to cry as the station staff member told people to step away from the train as it was now going to depart as her shoe was on the small ledge that helps people with the large gap. Thankfully Id already left the train at Gatwick

But I do think another issue is the GatEx as it attracts such a small amount of passengers due to its overpricing if it was heavily reduced, then more people could use it directing people away from southern creating more room on those train for people who need it. But its so overpriced and the only way forward is Southern. A station Platform staff member told people to Board a GatEx despite no ticket acceptance basically setting people up for penalty fare. But I do think GatEx should be partially abolished in return for cheaper fares.

Those who did board the Thameslinks, Do confuse me somehow, why would you board busy services when the 15 minute slower Redhill Line service is going to London as well? Maybe some would actually need to travel on a particular service say those who needed to travel somewhere near Cambridge but those for the Thameslink Core should be directed towards Slightly slower Bedford services of Peterborough ones when they run on weekdays and Saturday.


Side note: I know Gatwick is undergoing some needed work to improve passenger experiences but I do wish they'd just demolish the lot and start again rather than build off of customer unfriendly infrastructure. Especially those travelling with large suitcases, The Platforms are extremely narrow and many people do change at GTW especially those on the Redhill line who change for South Coasterly Services. No work is being done to Platform 2 and I think 3 and 4 which can get busy and it disappointing just to save money. I know that would be immensely immensely expensive and place millions under travel disruption as it would have little parts of the station open like it is currently but it would be useful in the long run as its dingy overcrowded and narrow.


I have no idea how to remedy the situation but it seems to be getting a lot worse since when I changed there in March and its completely unusable for those travelling with suitcases coming on or off planes as its to busy to fit a suitcase on the train.
 
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Nicholas Lewis

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Hello
I visited Gatwick Airport today as I was required to change there for a train to Hove. When I was awaiting my delayed train as expected, Platform 4 was extremely busy. Passengers were screamed at to stand behind the Yellow line despite the horrendous narrowness of the platforms and the immense amount of passengers.GTW staff shouting at passengers that there was a train approaching even though it stopped some distance outside Gatwick behind a red signal. When Trains finally did approach they were told not to board which is very counter productive as are large influx of passengers is just going to keep coming and coming if you dont tell people to get on when the next one to Victoria is in 10 Minutes.

Victoria Services are often the large offenders in the capacity issue as not many people seem to be bothered about Thameslinks perhaps due to current disruption that is sort of ending I suppose or they all want Victoria and Clapham? Today I was on a 4 car Brighton-Victoria and as expected zoomed past standing room at Gatwick. One lady started to cry as the station staff member told people to step away from the train as it was now going to depart as her shoe was on the small ledge that helps people with the large gap. Thankfully Id already left the train at Gatwick

But I do think another issue is the GatEx as it attracts such a small amount of passengers due to its overpricing if it was heavily reduced, then more people could use it directing people away from southern creating more room on those train for people who need it. But its so overpriced and the only way forward is Southern. A station Platform staff member told people to Board a GatEx despite no ticket acceptance basically setting people up for penalty fare. But I do think GatEx should be partially abolished in return for cheaper fares.

Those who did board the Thameslinks, Do confuse me somehow, why would you board busy services when the 15 minute slower Redhill Line service is going to London as well? Maybe some would actually need to travel on a particular service say those who needed to travel somewhere near Cambridge but those for the Thameslink Core should be directed towards Slightly slower Bedford services of Peterborough ones when they run on weekdays and Saturday.


Side note: I know Gatwick is undergoing some needed work to improve passenger experiences but I do wish they'd just demolish the lot and start again rather than build off of customer unfriendly infrastructure. Especially those travelling with large suitcases, The Platforms are extremely narrow and many people do change at GTW especially those on the Redhill line who change for South Coasterly Services. No work is being done to Platform 2 and I think 3 and 4 which can get busy and it disappointing just to save money. I know that would be immensely immensely expensive and place millions under travel disruption as it would have little parts of the station open like it is currently but it would be useful in the long run as its dingy overcrowded and narrow.


I have no idea how to remedy the situation but it seems to be getting a lot worse since when I changed there in March and its completely unusable for those travelling with suitcases coming on or off planes as its to busy to fit a suitcase on the train.
P4 is narrow in the areas where the escalators land but plenty of space at the London and Country end of the platforms and staff would be more helpful encourage people to move into those spaces
 

Surreytraveller

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Trouble with Gatwick is its always crowded with people unfamiliar with the British railway system, and always congregate at the bottom of the escalators and where the platforms are narrowist
 

JonathanH

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The platform staff do make regular announcements to get people to move along platform 4 to the quieter areas.

The station was of course designed with the intention that there would always be a waiting train in platform 1 or 2 for Victoria.
 

WizCastro197

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The platform staff do make regular announcements to get people to move along platform 4 to the quieter areas.

The station was of course designed with the intention that there would always be a waiting train in platform 1 or 2 for Victoria.
Yes I heard some on the way back but not on the way there. Pretty much a lady screaming to stand behind the line a train is approaching even though the Thameslink probably stopped 500 yards away from the station?
But the weird thing is a station staff member on the PA told people to board the Gatwick express. If you are found without a valid ticket on GX can you get penalty fared?

I’m not sure how foreigners manage to ensure they are on the correct train. They may see Victoria on the board but the code GX means absolutely nothing to them so they go there without a valid ticket. The announcement always says make sure you have a valid ticket to travel on this service but it doesn’t help when every train is announced like this.
 

yorkie

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But I do think another issue is the GatEx as it attracts such a small amount of passengers due to its overpricing if it was heavily reduced, then more people could use it directing people away from southern creating more room on those train for people who need it. But its so overpriced and the only way forward is Southern. A station Platform staff member told people to Board a GatEx despite no ticket acceptance basically setting people up for penalty fare. But I do think GatEx should be partially abolished in return for cheaper fares.
This has been done to death before, but as it's been brought up again, I feel compelled to point out that GTR are not permitted to charge premium fares on the basis of brand differentials; any additional fares charged for use of the GX are unlawful in my opinion.

There is no provision for charging Penalty Fares on the basis of being on the wrong brand; anyone charged a Penalty Fare, excess fare, or new ticket, for travelling on the 'wrong' GTR brand should seek a refund and seek help here (please tag me in).

I refer you to the following threads:








(there are plenty more!)

HelloI have no idea how to remedy the situation ...
For GTR to honour fares correctly would make a massive difference, as it would reduce overcrowding on their Southern & Thameslink branded trains.
 
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WizCastro197

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This has been done to death before, but as it's been brought up again, I feel compelled to point out that GTR are not permitted to charge premium fares on the basis of brand differentials; any additional fares charged for use of the GX are unlawful in my opinion.

There is no provision for charging Penalty Fares on the basis of being on the wrong brand; anyone charged a Penalty Fare, excess fare, or new ticket, for travelling on the 'wrong' GTR brand should seek a refund and seek help here (please tag me in).

I refer you to the following threads:





Yeah I was aware of this lawsuit and how it is a direct breach on contract entirely. But the DfT allow it.

And the Thameslink only tickets as well.
 

Nicholas Lewis

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The platform staff do make regular announcements to get people to move along platform 4 to the quieter areas.

The station was of course designed with the intention that there would always be a waiting train in platform 1 or 2 for Victoria.
The problem is four fast northbounds run off p1/p2 now which has reduced frequency off P4 where most people head for
 

yorkie

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Yeah I was aware of this lawsuit and how it is a direct breach on contract entirely. But the DfT allow it.
I'm sure DfT are consulting their lawyers as they could be in hot water too.
And the Thameslink only tickets as well.
Yes the issue affects all of GTR's brand specific fares.
GX runs from Platform 2 at least the terminators do.
What terminators? Almost all GX branded trains to Victoria are scheduled to depart from GTW P4 and run from Brighton to Gatwick
 

WizCastro197

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I'm sure DfT are consulting their lawyers as they could be in hot water too.

Yes the issue affects all of GTR's brand specific fares.

What terminators? Almost all GX branded trains to Victoria are scheduled to depart from GTW P4 and run from Brighton to Gatwick
Maybe just Sunday ones then haha

Yes I went yesterday to GTW and saw one leave and ones terminate.
But I forget that Sunday is severely reduced.
Are GX not étendes to Brighton on Sundays?
I saw one there on the coastway Platforms not sure why though as I don’t think GX coaches to Southern services anymore
 

Minstral25

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GX runs from Platform 2 at least the terminators do.

Historically they did but since 2018 its only been on Sundays and that is temporary because platforms 5 and 6 are closed - when they reopen the sight of a GX unit on the poor peoples platforms (1&2) will be very rare.

Also no work is being done in current refurbishment on 1 & 2 so all restrictions getting on and off these platforms will remain and they will remain narrow, hence why I call them the poor peoples platforms.
 

WizCastro197

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Historically they did but since 2018 its only been on Sundays and that is temporary because platforms 5 and 6 are closed - when they reopen the sight of a GX unit on the poor peoples platforms (1&2) will be very rare.

Also no work is being done in current refurbishment on 1 & 2 so all restrictions getting on and off these platforms will remain and they will remain narrow, hence why I call them the poor peoples platforms.
Yeah! It’s a shame because all redhill line trains northbound at least end up on platform 1

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Yeah! It’s a shame because all redhill line trains northbound at least end up on platform 1
For those few people who board Thameslink services northbound towards Bedford or Cambridge to get to central London, why not just board a less crowded empty train that take about 10-15 minutes more to get to St P or Blackfriars? You’ll get a seat and everything
Haha
 
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