Transforming your journey at Gatwick Airport
Architect’s impression of the new passenger concourse
Network Rail is delivering a vital upgrade to Gatwick Airport Railway Station to relieve crowding, improve accessibility and reduce delays for commuters and leisure travellers across the South East.
With the number of customers visiting the station set to grow, this important investment will upgrade the railway station and help the airport to play an even bigger role in the local economy’s growth as a hub for international visitors.
It will be delivered between May 2020 and 2023, with two years of intensive platform works between May 2020 and May 2022. While these platform works are underway, a dedicated timetable will keep you on the move.
Upgrade plans and benefits
The upgrade will:
- Double the size of the station concourse through the construction of a new concourse above platforms 5, 6 and 7, the refit of the existing station concourse and the construction of a new separate staff building to create more space for customers
- Improve customer access, especially for wheelchair users and those with luggage by building five new lifts, eight new escalators, new staircases and improved wayfinding throughout the station buildings
- Reduce platform overcrowding and reduce train delays across the network by widening platforms 5 and 6, through adding a new lift and set of stairs on platforms 3 & 4 and new lifts, escalators and stairs on platforms 5, 6 and 7. This will make it much faster for passengers to board and alight trains and clear platforms, helping our team to dispatch trains quickly and keep services running on time
To enable the work, the station will need to be managed differently. We will need to change walking routes at the station, so we’re planning extensively to ensure that every customer is supported during this exciting time at the airport. This includes ensuring that step-free access to and from the platforms is available at all times.
You can find out more about the Gatwick Railway Station upgrade project at: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/sussex/upgrading-the-brighton-main-line/gatwick-airport-station-upgrade/
Train services during the upgrade
We are working closely with Network Rail, Gatwick Airport, transport and rail groups and other stakeholders across the South East to introduce a dedicated timetable that will remain consistent for the two years of platform works. While coronavirus has impacted train services, the timetable in place from the 17 May 2020 has these plans at its centre.
We are introducing a dedicated timetable because the platform works between May 2020 and May 2022 will prevent trains from stopping at some platforms and a 30mph speed restriction will be in place when trains pass through the worksite.
While this important work is underway, there are up to sixteen trains per hour in each direction through the station for the majority of the day, two fewer than could otherwise run. This will mean changes to Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink services as we make the most of the available capacity on the railway and run longer trains wherever possible.
Customers will continue to have access to as many services as possible, at a time when fewer trains can operate per hour, and the timetable has been designed to deliver a punctual service so that passengers can rely on connections. We are working to deliver this important upgrade with as little disruption as possible.
The timetable is available in journey planners such as www.nationalrail.co.uk.
Find out more
You can find out more about the Gatwick Airport railway station upgrade at: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/sussex/upgrading-the-brighton-main-line/gatwick-airport-station-upgrade/