New Overnight Gatwick Express Train

[Deepgreen]

The BBC has a story (illustrated with a Greater Anglia train - is it really so hard to find the right picture?!) about a new London Victoria to Gatwick Airport weekend working running out at 0340 on Saturdays and back at 0435 on Mondays (my bolds). It seems odd to have an outward working on Saturdays only and the return on Mondays only - surely the stock will have to run back anyway? There is also the trial period in place at the moment of the GWR North Downs overnight weekend trains to the airport. I am wondering if the driver behind these has been Gatwick Airport and what will be the factors that decide whether the trials continue or are even enhanced. I would imagine simple usage figures would be the key, but who knows...

New early morning weekend train services to and from Gatwick Airport are being launched as part of a trial.

Gatwick Express, which operates as part of the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) network, has launched the services to help customers make early and late flight connections to and from London.

The changes are "part of a package of passenger-focused improvements being delivered" after GTR moved into public ownership in May, a spokesperson said.

The two new trains depart London Victoria at 03:40 on Saturdays and Gatwick Airport at 04:35 on Mondays.

The company has also launched fast track airport security and discounted airport lounges for Gatwick Express customers.

Louis Rambaud, GTR chief customer officer, said: "These new customer enhancements are part of our wider strategy to drive growth to key airports on our network."

Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister, said: "These additional overnight Gatwick Express services will make a real difference to people arriving late or travelling for early flights - connecting them straight to the capital.

"Alongside contactless ticketing at every London airport, we're building a railway that works for passengers and drives growth across the country."

New early morning weekend rail services for Gatwick Airport

The two new early morning trains are between London and Gatwick on Saturdays and Mondays.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[FenMan]

Gatwick Airport is definitely involved. I posted about this on the GWR overnight trial thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...o-reading-services.295005/page-2#post-7811076

 

[D6975]

The 0340 ex Victoria on a Sat returns from Gatwick at 0435 on a Sat according to RTT.