BBC NEWS | England | Branson in Gatwick Express call
This is just one article covering the plans to make changes to the Gatwick Express service, as part of a wider review of use of the line capacity between London and Brighton.

The basic idea is the line is at full capacity, the trains are full and over crowded, especially at peak time, and with no major boost of cash in the near future, the only way to ease over crowding is to try and make best use of the track capacity.

One of the services that uses this line is often only a quarter full (and certainly never seems crowded at all) even at peak times when all other trains are completly packed and no room to even stand. This is the Gatwick Express, 4 trains an hour (though I understand that as it runs non-stop between Gatwick and Victoria it actually requires greater space between it and the train before, which means less time to dish out to other routes).

BAA who run Gatwick have done everything they can to stop this, including “The Murder of the Gatwick Express” and “save the Gatwick Express“. Their message is “do you want a gatwick express or not?” – which is leading question, based with just that question there’s no reason to say ‘not’.

The important thing for Gatwick airport users (and hence BAA) is surely that they have a high frequency of quality trains with plenty of seats and bag storage running a quick service to London (and other major catchment areas).

The Gatwick Express is not the only way to do this. Trains in this area are generally new and well kept, most have baggage areas and – by freeing up slots on the lines by replacing the Gatwick Express – the service would be very frequent. Plus, most only stop at East Croydon and Clapham Juntion (and those that stop at one or two more places? well if they get to London before the next fast service then they are better than that ‘next fast service’!).

That point in the brackets there is quite important, they say one of the important things about the Gatwick Express is the fast service, but a service which you have to wait 15 minutes for will have no real advantage over a service you wait a few minutes for but takes a few minutes longer along the route.

Their other point is that airport users want a premium service (high price and better service). But this does not need better trains. This is called First class. If people going between London and Gatwick want a high quality service with lots of space for a little more cost, by a first class ticket.

Finally, there is one more problem I see. The whole Gatwick Express idea presumes that the everyone wants to go to Victoria. The truth is the catchment area is much of the south east, plus many other parts of London.

Which results in lots of air travellers using Thameslink services to London Bridge & Kings Cross, and other train services stopping at Eat Croydon and Clapham Junction (which is a major interchange).

All in all, I think BAA are misjudged by going out and out for keeping the Gatwick Express as it is today, and change could improve services to the coast but also lead to great improvements for people traveling to/from Gatwick both from Victoria and other destinations.

Rant over.