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Gatwick Express must remain ‘express’
At the end of last month, National Rail published a strategy paper recommending the government impose additional peak-time stops at Clapham Junction for the Gatwick Express.
In my view, this is not in the interests of air passengers and will undermine Gatwick’s competitive position.
The break up of BAA in December 2009 was ordered to promote competition and in the last eighteen months of new ownership, we’ve proved competition is working at Gatwick.
An extra stop at Clapham Junction, means Gatwick would no longer have a quick, direct route into central London – something that’s very important to our passengers and airlines.
Alongside the commercial terms and the significant improvements to passenger we’ve, our connectivity to central London is one of the main reasons new airlines like Air Asia X and Vietnam Airlines have chosen Gatwick over other London airports.
We know our business passengers value the direct 30-minute journey into Victoria – the heart of London. Losing this direct link into the heart of our capital would severely damage our – and London’s – ability to attract oversees airlines bring new routes to Gatwick.
There are, and will remain, plenty of trains that stop at Clapham Junction, East Croydon and other major south London interchanges. But I realise capacity is an issue on the Brighton main line.
That’s why Gatwick is working alongside Network Rail to invest £53m upgrading the airport rail station and creating a seventh platform. This will create additional capacity on the line and the opportunity for additional commuter services.
The government has made it clear that the focus for the aviation industry should be ‘better not bigger’ with improved passenger experience at airports. We fully support this and believe that travel options to and from airports are essential to achieving this goal.
The Government can’t take one-dimensional approach to rail strategy. At the UK’s second largest airport, it needs to balance the needs of commuters with those of air passengers, who love the Gatwick Express.
Let’s not scrap the one and only direct airport rail service on a whim, without fully understanding the knock-on effects.
3 Comments
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- Vera Burkova:
- Posted: 7:56pm. Tuesday 15 November 2011
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I visited Russia and was very surprised and pleased when non stop Domodedovo Express took me to Moscow from Domodedovo airport Many years ago it was really inconvenient without this service to get from the airport to Moscow. I hope that you will keep Gatwick Express to satisfy air passengers
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- K Driscoll:
- Posted: 10:12am. Monday 14 November 2011
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Strongly agree with keeping Gatwick Express as a non-stop service from Gatwick to London. Not only air passengers use this service, which provides great space for luggage to be stored, but many commuters from the surrounding Gatwick area use it too and pay a premium to do so. It seems that when something runs well, there is always someone wanting to change it. Please keep it as it is, it is a great service!
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- Andrew Sharp:
- Posted: 4:12pm. Wednesday 5 October 2011
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Agree entirely! It is something which my organisation - the International Air Rail Organisation - has consistently opposed. We believe, as you do, that air passengers really value a non-stop premium service. Past discussions with the aviation industry show a large measure of agreement! There always seem to be plenty of trains from Gatwick Airport to Clapham Junction.
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