A ‘bigger, better and brighter’ Gatwick Airport rail station is set to open on 21 November, with a second concourse and airport entrance that will double the space for passengers.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) said eight new escalators and five new lifts will provide a ‘step change’ for accessibility and that, along with four new stairways and widened platforms, they will help passengers move between the train station and the airport more quickly and easily.
The new concourse will act as the new entrance for people accessing the airport terminal, while the existing concourse will be for people exiting.
The existing concourse is also bigger, with new customer information systems, more ticket gates and a dedicated passenger assistance point.
The existing concourse, station footbridges and the South Terminal linkspan have been refurbished and reconfigured to provide a ‘seamless’ one-way system to the airport from the train station.
GTR said the improvements will help keep trains running on time by removing the congestion and queuing on platforms that delay trains.
It added that passengers on the Brighton Main Line are already seeing the benefits of the project thanks to track upgrades that have helped reduce journey times between Brighton and London to one hour on some services.
Customer services director Jenny Saunders said: ‘Our trains sustainably speed people to the airport in just half an hour from London - and that's much better for the environment than driving.
‘However, right now, the station struggles with the numbers using it and that holds up our trains, delaying everyone.
‘This stunning redevelopment will fix all that. Our customers are going to love the extra space and improved accessibility that will make the journey between train and plane quicker, easier and more attractive.’
Gatwick Airport chief commercial officer Jonathan Pollard said: ‘The number of passengers getting to the airport by rail is growing steadily and now over 40% use the train.
‘This fantastic new, fully accessible station concourse will encourage even more passengers to come to the airport using sustainable public transport.’
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