GTR renews entire Gatwick Express train fleet

Govia Thameslink Railway has finished updating its entire Gatwick Express fleet with modern Class 387/2s, giving passengers a superior passenger experience on the premium non-stop airport service to and from London Victoria and its extensions to Brighton.

Compared to the 30-year-old Class 442s they are replacing, the new £145million, 27-train Gatwick Express fleet, which comprises 108 carriages, includes:

• More First Class seats and tables
• Power sockets throughout
• Free Wi-Fi
• Real-time passenger service information
• Dedicated luggage racks in every carriage
• Accessible toilets and baby changers
• More spacious vestibule areas
• Over-seat lighting
• 2x2 seating with more leg room and under-seat storage capacity

GTR Engineering Director Gerry McFadden said: “These trains mark a real step-change in comfort and travelling experience for our passengers.

“They replace 30-year-old rolling stock that wasn’t really suited to passengers using the airport. The 387s have two double doors on each carriage so passengers can get on and off quicker and more easily, more luggage space and they accelerate faster.”

ends

For more information, contact the GTR press office on 0203 750 2031 or email press.office@gtrailway.com.

Editor’s notes

The first of Bombardier’s Derby-built Class 387/2 Electrostars was formally launched on Gatwick Express on 10 March this year.

Govia Thameslink Railway

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:

Thameslink – services between Bedford and Brighton, Luton/St Albans and Sutton, Wimbledon and Sevenoaks

Great Northern – services between London and Welwyn, Hertford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn

Southern – services between London and the Sussex coast (Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Hastings) and parts of Surrey, Kent and Hampshire (Ashford International, Southampton, Portsmouth)

Gatwick Express – Fast, non-stop direct services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria

GTR is now the largest rail franchise in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue and staff: GTR carries about 326 million passenger journeys per year, employs around 6,500 people and generates annual passenger revenues of approximately £1.3bn.

The GTR investment programme for stations includes funding for more CCTV, toilet refurbishments, new retail facilities, help points and car park improvements – as well as plans for increased motorcycle storage and improved transport integration.

southernrailway.com, gatwickexpress.com, thameslinkrailway.com greatnorthernrail.com