Train times change in phased introduction of winter timetable

• GTR services accommodate engineering work and ongoing effects of Covid-19
• Gatwick Express returns after 21-month break
• Passengers advised to check before they travel

Train times at Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink will change from Sunday 12 December 2021 as Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) starts to introduce an updated winter 2021/2022 timetable.

The timetable introduction will be phased, with the last stage introduced after the holiday period on Tuesday 4 January 2022. Until 4 January there will be improvements and changes on some routes but also temporary service reductions on others.

This will support significant engineering works over the Christmas and New Year period, and ensure planned services are as reliable as possible with the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on GTR’s operation. It will also reflect changes to services during bank holidays and the Christmas and New Year week.

It’s important for passengers to check before they travel in this period.

Gatwick Express also returns on Monday 13 December, to support the recovery of Gatwick Airport and the South East economy. Services were suspended on 30 March 2020 as the pandemic took hold and passenger numbers at the airport tumbled. Passengers at the airport are now returning in greater numbers. Gatwick Express, however, will also be affected by engineering work until 4 January (see editor’s notes).

GTR Interim Chief Operating Officer Angie Doll said: “We’re changing our train times in phases from 12 December to support engineering work and ensure services are as reliable as possible given the ongoing impact of Covid-19.

“We do strongly urge our customers, including those travelling to see friends and family over the festive period, to check before leaving home using live travel updates on our websites and at National Rail Enquiries where they can also sign-up for alerts.”

She added: “We’re pleased to reinstate our seven-day-a-week non-stop Gatwick Express service. Gatwick Airport plays a vital part in driving economic growth in the South East and we’re proud to support its recovery.”

Passengers are also reminded that, from today, they must wear face coverings across the railway unless exempt.

The Christmas and New Year timetables from 25 December to 3 January are already available to view in online journey planners such as www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Train times for the two earlier phases in the run-up to Christmas, on Southern and Thameslink, are being updated, with reduced services in some cases. Timetables will be available as follows:

• Journeys between Sunday 12 December and Saturday 18 December, available in online journey planners from Monday 6 December.
• Journeys between Sunday 19 December and Friday 24 December, available in online journey planners from Monday 13 December.

A summary of changes is available online at southernrailway.com, thameslinkrailway.com and greatnorthernrailway.com.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Gatwick Express services were suspended on 30 March 2020 as the pandemic took hold and passenger numbers at the airport tumbled. Passengers at the airport are now returning in greater numbers. The service will now return to support the recovery of the airport and South East economy.

From Monday 13 December Gatwick Express will return on weekdays but not run from 26 December to 3 January inclusive due to engineering work.

From 4 January, the full Gatwick Express winter timetable will operate, with two Gatwick Express services running non-stop, seven days a week, between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria. This was the original plan for services after May 2020, introduced to facilitate the upgrade of Gatwick Airport station, which means there are fewer platforms available.

• Pre-Covid, Gatwick was the single biggest driver of economic growth in the region, delivering £2.7 billion of economic activity and 71,000 direct and indirect jobs 
• As a gateway to the UK for 5.5 million overseas visitors each year before the pandemic, it was estimated that visitors through Gatwick spent 9.7million nights in the South East including seaside towns such as Brighton, bringing a significant economic boost to local hotels, visitor attractions, restaurants and shops
• Gatwick Airport station is being rebuilt to improve accessibility, reduce congestion and cut delays for commuters and leisure travellers alike using the route
• The work continued through the pandemic to prepare for the time when we will be supporting the regeneration of our region’s economy
• The station upgrade is essential to address the overcrowding we see in normal times, improving accessibility and the punctuality of trains passing through

Gatwick Express service In detail (from 4 Jan):

Mondays to Saturdays inclusive, all Gatwick Express trains will run non-stop between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, then will run through to Brighton.

As in the past, peak-time weekday services will also call additionally at Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Hassocks and Preston Park.

On Sundays, trains will run between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria only.

Engineering work and summary of services

Saturday 11 December and Sunday 12 December

• Line closure between Cambridge and Cambridge North – Changes to services between Cambridge and London, and between Cambridge North and King’s Lynn.
• Engineering work between Peckham Rye and West Norwood – Changes to Southern Metro and Thameslink services.
• Changes to services between Brighton/London and Hastings and Ore including rail replacement buses.
• Changes to services between Cosham and Southampton Central including rail replacement buses.
• No cross-London Thameslink service (Sunday 12 December only).
• Changes to services between Reigate / Horley and Purley and between Redhill and Tonbridge including rail replacement buses (Sunday 12 December).

Sunday 12 December

• Start of Winter Timetable

Monday 13 December – Friday 17 December 2021

• Revised weekday timetable in operation

Saturday 18 December – Sunday 19 December 2021

• Reduced Southern and Thameslink services in Redhill and Reigate area. Trains between the south coast and London will also be amended
• Reduced services with line closures between Balham and West Croydon
• Reduced services including rail replacement buses between Three Bridges and Lewes and Polegate / Seaford on Sunday 19 December
• Reduced Thameslink services between Bedford and Brighton

Monday 20 December – Thursday 23 December 2021

• Revised weekday timetable in operation 

Christmas Eve Friday 24 December

• Revised weekday timetable in operation 
• Trains will finish running earlier than normal on all routes with last trains departing central London from around 20:00

Christmas Day Saturday 25 December 2021

• No service

Boxing Day 26 December 2021

• A limited service will run on Southern, with trains between London Bridge and Three Bridges, between London Bridge and Brighton, between London Bridge and Sutton via Selhurst and West Croydon and between London Bridge to East Croydon via Crystal Palace
• No trains will run on Gatwick Express, Great Northern or Thameslink

From Monday 27 December until Monday 3 January

• A revised service will run on all routes
• From Monday 27 December until 3 January, due to re-signalling works at London Victoria, most trains will be diverted to run to and from London Bridge. Gatwick Express trains will not run
• From Monday 27 December until 3 January, trains will run to a revised timetable between Sutton and St Albans/Luton due to engineering work
• On Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December, no trains will run between Finsbury Park and Moorgate due to engineering work

Tuesday 4 January 2022

• Last phase of Winter 2021/2022 weekday timetable introduced

Please note this list is not exhaustive and does not include weekday late night engineering work. Passengers should check every journey at www.nationalrail.co.uk