Gatwick Express will restart its nonstop service from London Victoria next month to “support the recovery of Gatwick airport and the South East economy”.

Services were first suspended in March 2020 due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the drop in passenger numbers at the airport. While they initially resumed on weekdays in December 2021, the services were suspended again due to engineering works and the impact of Omicron.

From April 3 there will be two services an hour rather than the pre-pandemic four trains per hour. Operator Govia Thameslink Railway said this is due to the ongoing upgrade of the railway station, set to finish next year, which means there are not enough platforms to accommodate all trains.

The service is scheduled to run seven days a week, but Gatwick Express says that weekend engineering work will affect this and advises passengers to check ahead at nationalrail.co.uk.

This comes as Gatwick Airport plans to reopen its South Terminal on March 27, after nearly two years of lying dormant as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stephen MacCallaugh, general manager at Gatwick Express, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to bring back our non-stop Gatwick Express service from Sunday 3 April as we look forward to a busier summer season including for international travel.

“With more passengers now returning to Gatwick by rail and the South Terminal reopening, now is the time to get our service running again to support the airport and the economic recovery in the South East.”

Emma Rees, Head of Real Estate and Surface Access, London Gatwick Airport, said:

“The return of Gatwick Express is great news and we’re really looking forward to the completion of the upgraded railway station. People are flying from Gatwick in ever-increasing numbers and excellent rail links which have a dedicated service specifically for airport passengers are a vital element of our recovery and our link into central London and beyond.”

The services will run nonstop between London Victoria and Gatwick airport, and then will run through nonstop to Brighton. On Sundays trains will run between Gatwick airport and London Victoria only.

Peak-time weekday services will also call additionally at Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Hassocks and Preston Park.

Analysis from our consumer editor Alex McWhirter

This is good news for Gatwick airport but after having been suspended for many months one must wonder if the demand is there?

I ask because Gatwick Express is already priced at a premium even though its rival Southern offers a journey time of a mere three minutes more between London Victoria and Gatwick.

Former rail manager Sir Michael Holden tweeted:

“Eliminate the stupid premium pricing so that simple fares are presented [to passengers] at Victoria and Gatwick.”

 

The Gatwick Express price difference varies between 10 per cent and over 50 per cent depending on peak and off-peak trains.

Finally there is fierce competition from Thameslink serving a greater number of stations in Central London plus London Bridge.

gatwickexpress.com