Gatwick station expands

While local campaigners are lobbying the Civil Aviation Authority and municipal councils to block Gatwick Airport’s expansionary plans as obsolete, the railway station alongside is being upgraded at a cost of £150m.

Work began just before the coronavirus crisis to improve what is already one of the shortest distances in the world between train and plane.  In the past decade, however, those using the dedicated station have risen from 14m to 21m out of 48m for all air passengers.   The forecast was for a further increase based on extra runway.

Ironically, progress on the project is being helped by the imposed slump at Britain’s second busiest airport and on its busiest railway, the London – Brighton line.  Trains were already cut from 18 to 16 per hour during peaks, with all non-stopping ones reducing speed to 30mph.

Three of the seven platforms are being closed during widening or other improvements that include eight new escalators, five new lifts and four new stairways.  The work, which also involves doubling the overhead concourse, is on schedule for completion by 2023.

Normally, four Gatwick Express trains per hour make the non-stop journey between the airport and London (Victoria) in 30min.

www.btnews.co.uk

www.gatwickairport.com

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