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Post by wirewiper on Oct 12, 2020 16:31:45 GMT
When the Gatwick Express was suspended at the end of March, it ended 36 years of the Airport's dedicated non-stop express link to Central London.
At the time it was introduced in 1984, the service revolutionised access to the Airport: a fast train departing every 15 minutes at clockface intervals and taking 30 minutes for the non-stop journey. It was able to command a premium fare.
However there are now so many other trains operating between Central London and Gatwick Airport, 14 an hour on the Southern and Thameslink routes. Indeed the Thameslink route is a better option for many travellers for whom Victoria is too far out of the way. With such "Metro" style turn-up-and-go frequencies, there seems to be less need for a dedicated and expensive express service.
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Post by M1104 on Oct 12, 2020 17:44:53 GMT
When the Gatwick Express was suspended at the end of March, it ended 36 years of the Airport's dedicated non-stop express link to Central London. At the time it was introduced in 1984, the service revolutionised access to the Airport: a fast train departing every 15 minutes at clockface intervals and taking 30 minutes for the non-stop journey. It was able to command a premium fare. However there are now so many other trains operating between Central London and Gatwick Airport, 14 an hour on the Southern and Thameslink routes. Indeed the Thameslink route is a better option for many travellers for whom Victoria is too far out of the way. With such "Metro" style turn-up-and-go frequencies, there seems to be less need for a dedicated and expensive express service. South Londoners like myself have no practical use for the service as it would require me to travel miles in the opposite direction to Victoria for that express ride. Travellers from other parts of London mind you are likely to find the service much more valuable. A person for example living near Finsbury Park Station most times can easily get to Gatwick quicker¹ than I can from Mitcham....and with less changing. In essence it's a matter of geographical perspective. ¹ ‐ Victoria Line to Victoria then Gat Ex |
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Post by bus12451 on Oct 12, 2020 18:08:19 GMT
When the Gatwick Express was suspended at the end of March, it ended 36 years of the Airport's dedicated non-stop express link to Central London. At the time it was introduced in 1984, the service revolutionised access to the Airport: a fast train departing every 15 minutes at clockface intervals and taking 30 minutes for the non-stop journey. It was able to command a premium fare. However there are now so many other trains operating between Central London and Gatwick Airport, 14 an hour on the Southern and Thameslink routes. Indeed the Thameslink route is a better option for many travellers for whom Victoria is too far out of the way. With such "Metro" style turn-up-and-go frequencies, there seems to be less need for a dedicated and expensive express service. That's 36 years of scamming tourists. Would've abolished GX a long time ago and have its resources reallocated to Southern. |
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Post by greenboy on Oct 12, 2020 18:10:16 GMT
When the Gatwick Express was suspended at the end of March, it ended 36 years of the Airport's dedicated non-stop express link to Central London. At the time it was introduced in 1984, the service revolutionised access to the Airport: a fast train departing every 15 minutes at clockface intervals and taking 30 minutes for the non-stop journey. It was able to command a premium fare. However there are now so many other trains operating between Central London and Gatwick Airport, 14 an hour on the Southern and Thameslink routes. Indeed the Thameslink route is a better option for many travellers for whom Victoria is too far out of the way. With such "Metro" style turn-up-and-go frequencies, there seems to be less need for a dedicated and expensive express service. South Londoners like myself have no practical use for the service as it would require me to travel miles in the opposite direction to Victoria for that express ride. Travellers from other parts of London mind you are likely to find the service much more valuable. A person for example living near Finsbury Park Station most times can easily get to Gatwick quicker¹ than I can from Mitcham....and with less changing. In essence it's a matter of geographical perspective. ¹ ‐ Victoria Line to Victoria then Gat Ex Or Thameslink direct from Finsbury Park to Gatwick....... I think the Gatwick Express has had its day. |
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Post by M1104 on Oct 12, 2020 19:07:08 GMT
South Londoners like myself have no practical use for the service as it would require me to travel miles in the opposite direction to Victoria for that express ride. Travellers from other parts of London mind you are likely to find the service much more valuable. A person for example living near Finsbury Park Station most times can easily get to Gatwick quicker¹ than I can from Mitcham....and with less changing. In essence it's a matter of geographical perspective. ¹ ‐ Victoria Line to Victoria then Gat Ex Or Thameslink direct from Finsbury Park to Gatwick....... I think the Gatwick Express has had its day. I take your word for it regarding Thameslink as I don't know the 'full' route of it through Greater London. |
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Post by redexpress on Oct 12, 2020 21:26:16 GMT
When the Gatwick Express was suspended at the end of March, it ended 36 years of the Airport's dedicated non-stop express link to Central London. At the time it was introduced in 1984, the service revolutionised access to the Airport: a fast train departing every 15 minutes at clockface intervals and taking 30 minutes for the non-stop journey. It was able to command a premium fare. However there are now so many other trains operating between Central London and Gatwick Airport, 14 an hour on the Southern and Thameslink routes. Indeed the Thameslink route is a better option for many travellers for whom Victoria is too far out of the way. With such "Metro" style turn-up-and-go frequencies, there seems to be less need for a dedicated and expensive express service. South Londoners like myself have no practical use for the service as it would require me to travel miles in the opposite direction to Victoria for that express ride. Travellers from other parts of London mind you are likely to find the service much more valuable. A person for example living near Finsbury Park Station most times can easily get to Gatwick quicker¹ than I can from Mitcham....and with less changing. In essence it's a matter of geographical perspective. ¹ ‐ Victoria Line to Victoria then Gat Ex Finsbury Park to Gatwick is a journey I've done many many times - and you're right that it is very quick via Victoria (although I almost always used the Southern service rather than pay through the nose for GX).
As has been pointed out the new Thameslink network does offer direct trains between Finsbury Park and Gatwick. It is actually marginally slower than travelling through Victoria, thanks to the time that Thameslink takes to trundle through central London, but it is obviously a much easier journey.
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Post by YY13VKP on Oct 12, 2020 21:30:19 GMT
When the Gatwick Express was suspended at the end of March, it ended 36 years of the Airport's dedicated non-stop express link to Central London. At the time it was introduced in 1984, the service revolutionised access to the Airport: a fast train departing every 15 minutes at clockface intervals and taking 30 minutes for the non-stop journey. It was able to command a premium fare. However there are now so many other trains operating between Central London and Gatwick Airport, 14 an hour on the Southern and Thameslink routes. Indeed the Thameslink route is a better option for many travellers for whom Victoria is too far out of the way. With such "Metro" style turn-up-and-go frequencies, there seems to be less need for a dedicated and expensive express service. Whilst I've only been on a proper Gatwick Express service twice, neither of which because I was actually flying out, prior to the pandemic there were healthy loadings on GX services from what I saw. Unlike the Heathrow Express however which is the only way to get to Heathrow directly by rail, there are plenty of fast and frequent services to get to Gatwick Airport. That, coupled with the downturn in air travel at Gatwick does bring the future of the service into question, especially as the airport is pretty much empty as it stands. Currently (as far as I'm aware) there are no plans to remove the Gatwick Express in its entirety with a view to potentially resuming service in the May 21 timetable change when airport traffic starts picking up again and I don't think there will be until the franchise is up for tender, so GX is not over and done with yet! If however the DfT decides to permanently withdraw the Gatwick Express service (not making it a franchise requirement in the next TSGN franchise), then the 387's, along with the 29 units from GN could be used to replace the entire 455 fleet as well as potentially cascading the 377/3's to Coastway services replacing Class 313s in the next franchise. As much as it pains me to even think about replacements for the Southern 455's, they will be life expired in a couple of years time so they will have to go eventually. This is purely speculation here but as the platforms have now been extended on the Kings Lynn route, I can see those services turning into Thameslink services perhaps. I think there has been some clearance tests for RLU 700's recently but not 100% on this and there could be potential to extend the future Maidstone to Cambridge services up to Kings Lynn if so. With the Kings Cross to Cambridge services being in the hands of Thameslink already and reports of the Moorgate services being in the hands of London Overground once the franchise expires, I don't see much point in Great Northern's existence beyond the end of the current franchise when most of it's work has been taken over by Thameslink. Anyway, the point being the 29 387/1's could also be released for use by Southern along with the GatEx 387/2's in the next franchise. |
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Post by vjaska on Oct 13, 2020 0:08:05 GMT
When the Gatwick Express was suspended at the end of March, it ended 36 years of the Airport's dedicated non-stop express link to Central London. At the time it was introduced in 1984, the service revolutionised access to the Airport: a fast train departing every 15 minutes at clockface intervals and taking 30 minutes for the non-stop journey. It was able to command a premium fare. However there are now so many other trains operating between Central London and Gatwick Airport, 14 an hour on the Southern and Thameslink routes. Indeed the Thameslink route is a better option for many travellers for whom Victoria is too far out of the way. With such "Metro" style turn-up-and-go frequencies, there seems to be less need for a dedicated and expensive express service. South Londoners like myself have no practical use for the service as it would require me to travel miles in the opposite direction to Victoria for that express ride. Travellers from other parts of London mind you are likely to find the service much more valuable. A person for example living near Finsbury Park Station most times can easily get to Gatwick quicker¹ than I can from Mitcham....and with less changing. In essence it's a matter of geographical perspective. ¹ ‐ Victoria Line to Victoria then Gat Ex Yeah, I think my family have used it once maybe twice over the years and Gatwick is our preferred airport. The one aspect I do remember is the loud units it had back in the day - can remember waiting at Clapham Junction for the train to Brighton as a kid and these deafening things speeding through. Also reminds of the racket of the Eurostar roaring through Brixton on the line to Kent. |
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Post by capitalomnibus on Oct 13, 2020 22:04:33 GMT
When the Gatwick Express was suspended at the end of March, it ended 36 years of the Airport's dedicated non-stop express link to Central London. At the time it was introduced in 1984, the service revolutionised access to the Airport: a fast train departing every 15 minutes at clockface intervals and taking 30 minutes for the non-stop journey. It was able to command a premium fare. However there are now so many other trains operating between Central London and Gatwick Airport, 14 an hour on the Southern and Thameslink routes. Indeed the Thameslink route is a better option for many travellers for whom Victoria is too far out of the way. With such "Metro" style turn-up-and-go frequencies, there seems to be less need for a dedicated and expensive express service. That's 36 years of scamming tourists. Would've abolished GX a long time ago and have its resources reallocated to Southern. I wouldn't say its a scam, I have used it many times and welcome a non packed train. Instead of a train full of commuters who think you are useless with your suitcase and step in front of you etc.
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Post by ctrh136 on Oct 15, 2020 10:04:43 GMT
If I'm right the Gatwick Express was only going to run half hourly off peak from May given the engineering works at Gatwick Airport station, leaving only the Brighton service. I think this service actually still runs but as a Southern service that stops additionally at East Croydon and Haywards Heath (but not Clapham Junction). I'm pretty certain it takes the same amount of time as the GatEx would have done anyway so I think it makes sense to keep it as is for now.
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Post by 700101 on Oct 15, 2020 18:51:41 GMT
If I'm right the Gatwick Express was only going to run half hourly off peak from May given the engineering works at Gatwick Airport station, leaving only the Brighton service. I think this service actually still runs but as a Southern service that stops additionally at East Croydon and Haywards Heath (but not Clapham Junction). I'm pretty certain it takes the same amount of time as the GatEx would have done anyway so I think it makes sense to keep it as is for now. That’s correct along with Eastbourne/Ore & Littlehampton services no longer splitting at Hayward’s Heath with the Ore/Eastbourne services using the old SN Brighton paths and I agree the current service pattern is more than adequate for Gatwick Airport. As mentioned above Gatwick Airport also has TL/SN services which are a few minutes quicker than the pre May GX services GX brand should be kept but run as it is today stopping at East Croydon & Hayward’s Heath. Look at the Stansded Express they stop at intermediate stations, Luton Airport currently has 1tph non stop EMR services and will be boosted to 2 fast trains an hour but they also have 4 semi-fast services which take roughly a few minutes longer and 2 stopping services a hour |
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