Gatwick Airport Train Services: Running Or Not?

Gatwick Airport is located in West Sussex, just southeast of London, and the city centre is only a 30-minute train ride away. Trains from the airport to central London are operated by Gatwick Express, Thameslink, and Southern, with services running frequently, seven days a week. The Gatwick Express takes passengers directly from Gatwick Airport Station to London Victoria Station in 31 minutes. There are also services to London St. Pancras and London Victoria via Southern and Thameslink trains.

Train routes and operators

Gatwick Airport is served by several train companies, including Thameslink, Southern, Gatwick Express, and Great Western Railway. The airport is just a train ride away, with Thameslink offering direct routes from over 50 stations and frequent services up to 8 times per hour.

Thameslink

Thameslink offers fast and frequent trains to Gatwick Airport, with direct routes from over 50 stations and services running up to 8 times per hour. You can travel to Gatwick from Brighton, London, or Hertfordshire, with a direct train from London St Pancras International.

Southern

Southern Railway serves Gatwick Airport, offering various ticket options, including Super Off-Peak, Off-Peak, and Anytime tickets. They also provide assistance for passengers with access needs, including priority seating and wheelchairs.

Gatwick Express

Gatwick Express manages the Gatwick Airport station and provides staff to assist with ticket vending machines and other services. They offer a range of tickets, including Oyster Pay as you go and discounted tickets for advance booking.

Great Western Railway

Great Western Railway also serves Gatwick Airport and is listed as one of the train companies affected by Met Office weather warnings.

Travel times

The Gatwick Express train service takes passengers from Gatwick Airport station to London Victoria station in 31 minutes. This service is operated by Gatwick Express, Thameslink, and Southern. Trains run frequently, seven days a week, and the airport train station is located just outside the South Terminal. A shuttle bus is available for passengers arriving at the North Terminal, which runs every three minutes and takes two minutes.

From London, travellers can connect to other destinations, including Cambridge, Canterbury, and Oxford. Direct trains also run from Gatwick Airport to London Luton Airport, Guildford, Reading, Brighton, and Portsmouth.

For those travelling within the London area, the London Underground network can be accessed from Victoria Station, providing connections to other London train stations and tourist sites such as Westminster station, Big Ben, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and the River Thames.

It is recommended to book train tickets in advance to find the cheapest fares and take advantage of savings offered by National Railcards. Real-time information on train departures and arrivals at Gatwick Airport can be found on various websites and mobile applications.

Delays and cancellations

Delays, cancellations, and disruptions are an inevitable part of travel, and this certainly extends to train services to and from Gatwick Airport. While train travel can be a convenient way to get to and from the airport, it's important to be prepared for potential delays or cancellations that could impact your journey.

One common cause of delays and cancellations at Gatwick Airport, as with any airport, is adverse weather conditions. Heavy rain, flooding, and other severe weather events can cause significant disruptions to train services. For example, on 27 November 2024, heavy rain and flooding earlier in the day led to delays and cancellations of several train services to Gatwick Airport, affecting passengers travelling to the airport from various stations, including London St Pancras, Luton, and Brighton. In such cases, it's crucial to stay updated on weather warnings and plan your journey accordingly.

In addition to weather-related issues, other unforeseen circumstances can also cause delays and cancellations. These include operational issues, such as engineering works, signal failures, or other technical problems. During the festive period, for instance, engineering works and service disruptions are quite common. In the 2024 festive season, major works affected Thameslink and Great Northern services, with amended timetables in place across several routes. On Christmas Eve, trains finished much earlier than usual, and no trains ran on Christmas Day. Therefore, it's always advisable to check for planned engineering works and service updates before travelling, especially during busy travel periods.

Another factor that can lead to delays and cancellations is unexpected incidents or disruptions. These can include passenger disturbances, security issues, or other unforeseen events. In such cases, real-time updates and alerts can help travellers stay informed and make alternative arrangements if needed.

To minimise the impact of delays and cancellations, it's recommended to:

• Check for travel updates and weather warnings before embarking on your journey.
• Allow for extra time when travelling, especially during busy or adverse weather periods.
• Familiarise yourself with alternative routes and modes of transport to and from the airport.
• Stay informed about any planned engineering works or service disruptions, especially during holiday periods.
• Sign up for customised alerts or use journey planner tools to receive timely updates on potential delays or cancellations.

By being proactive and staying informed, you can better navigate delays and cancellations when travelling to and from Gatwick Airport by train.

Tickets and fares

The best way to buy your train ticket to or from Gatwick Airport is online. By pre-booking, you can avoid station queues, collect from any station, and save money. You can use websites such as Trainline or the websites of the individual train operators, such as Thameslink, Southern Railway, or Gatwick Express.

If you want to find the cheapest fares, then it is recommended that you book tickets well in advance of travelling. On top of this, you can use National Railcards to save 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off kids' fares.

Three train services operate trains from London Victoria station to Gatwick Airport station: the Gatwick Express, Southern, and Thameslink. The Gatwick Express is the fastest of these and takes only 31 minutes from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport. Thameslink trains also run from London St Pancras or Blackfriars. Direct trains also run to Gatwick Airport from London Luton Airport, Guildford, Reading, Brighton, and Portsmouth.

From London Victoria and London St Pancras stations, you can also travel to other London stations via the London Underground, allowing for easy connections to train stations around the UK.

There are several types of tickets you can purchase, depending on your journey:

• Anytime: If you’re unsure if you’ll make it in time for a specific train, keep your options open with an Anytime ticket that’s valid all day.
• Super Off-Peak and Off-Peak: You could save money if you’re travelling outside of peak morning and evening times.
• Advance: Discounted tickets booked ahead of travel.
• Season tickets: Discounted long-term tickets for regular commuters.

Station facilities

Gatwick Airport train station is located in the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, and has step-free access to all platforms. The assistance meeting point is at the assistance desk on the main concourse. The station has ticket gates and is staffed at all times, with staff available to help passengers get on and off the train, as well as to and from the platform. Assistance can be provided without booking, or it can be booked up to two hours in advance by contacting Assisted Travel.

The station has toilets, baby-changing facilities, and a waiting room with heated waiting areas on the platforms. There are no showers or seating areas.

There is a bureau de change, luggage storage, a post box, and a taxi rank at the station. There are also shops, cafes, and restaurants, located in the airport terminal.

Oyster cards can be purchased and topped up at the station, and Pay as you go is supported. Smartcards can be validated but not issued or topped up at the station. There are ticket machines, and tickets bought online can be collected at the station.

There is no Wi-Fi at the station, but it is available onboard trains. There are also no public telephones, but there is a helpline for assistance that operates 24/7 except on Christmas Day.

Frequently asked questions