Gatwick Express - Gatwick Express Services - E

Gatwick Express - E

Gatwick Express Services

Immediately before suspension in March 2020, the standard weekday and Saturday service pattern was one train every 15 minutes non-stop between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, with half-hourly extensions to/from Brighton (non-stop from Gatwick).

At peak times on weekdays, all Gatwick Express trains ran to Brighton every 15 minutes; additional stops were also made during this time at Haywards Heath and Hassocks (half-hourly) or Burgess Hill, Hassocks and Preston Park (half-hourly).

On Sundays, the service pattern between London and the airport was unchanged but there were no extensions to or from Brighton. In December 2022, trains began calling at Haywards Heath every 30 minutes between Gatwick and Brighton.

London Victoria – Brighton 2 tph

Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath

Gatwick Express Past Services

From privatisation until December 2008, the service pattern was one train every 15 minutes non-stop between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.

In April 2007 the Department for Transport announced that the Gatwick Express franchise was to be incorporated into the South Central franchise. As part of a plan to increase capacity on the Brighton Main Line.

As a result, peak-time services were extended beyond Gatwick to/from Brighton from December 2008, with northbound trains running every 15 minutes in the morning peak and southbound trains to Brighton every 15 minutes in the evening peak. This change doubled the number of London-to-Brighton express trains during peak periods. Additional calls were made at Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks and/or Preston Park.

The stopping pattern for northbound services was not regular but all stations received at least one train a day, while all services called at Haywards Heath; the southbound services were more structured, with all services calling at Haywards Heath and half-hourly services for Burgess Hill, Hassocks and Preston Park (no southbound trains served Wivelsfield).

As part of the December 2015 timetable, Gatwick Express began serving Brighton all day (except on Sundays), with half-hourly services in the off-peak and evenings (while the remaining services continue to terminate at Gatwick Airport).

Unlike peak-time services, these call at no intermediate stations between Brighton and the airport. These services replaced the half-hourly "express" services operated by Southern (which did not call at Gatwick Airport).

In May 2018, the stopping pattern for peak-time services was changed: all calls at Wivelsfield and Preston Park stations were withdrawn, Hassocks is now served by all peak Gatwick Express services every 15 minutes, while Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath are served half-hourly (by alternate services) in both directions. Services to and from Preston Park were restored in May 2019, though, with half-hourly calls made by the same trains that stop at Burgess Hill.

Gatwick Express Overview

Gatwick Express Franchise(s):

Gatwick Trains

28 April 1996 – 22 June 2008

Part of the South Central franchise

22 June 2008 - 25 July 2015

Part of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise

26 July 2015 – 31 March 2025

Gatwick Express Main Route(s): London Victoria – Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Express Other Route(s): Brighton

Gatwick Express Fleet Size:

18 Class 387

Gatwick Express Stations Called At: 7

Gatwick Express Stations Operated: 0

Gatwick Express Parent Company: Govia Thameslink Railway

Gatwick Express Reporting Mark: GX

Gatwick Express Technical Length: 43.3 kilometres (26.9 mi)

Gatwick Express Route

London Victoria

Gatwick Airport

Haywards Heath

Burgess Hill

Hassocks

Preston Park

Brighton

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