Gatwick Express train fleet to start entering service this month

On 29th February, the first new Gatwick Express Electrostar train will enter service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport and is the first of 27 new trains to come which will replace the current 30-year old train fleet.

The new £145million, 27-train fleet which comprises 108 carriages includes more First Class seats, power sockets throughout, on-train Wi-Fi, over-seat lighting and 2x2 seating with more leg room and under-seat storage capacity.

One other great advantage the new trains have over the old fleet are the double sliding doors – two per carriage- which will enable passengers to get on and off the train more easily, reducing boarding/alighting times, and the amount of time the train is kept at stations.

Gatwick Express Passenger Services Director, Angie Doll said: “We’re really excited about the news that the first new Gatwick Express train will be landing at Gatwick Airport station at the end of this month.

“The new fleet will replace 30-year old trains which are not designed for today’s airport passenger, and our new trains will transform the travelling experience with double doors for easier boarding and alighting, power points for laptops and chargers, Wi-Fi, more luggage space and improved reliability.

“From this summer, we’ll be introducing a raft of further exciting improvements to the overall Gatwick express journey.”

Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said: “The imminent arrival of new Gatwick Express trains heralds an exciting next step in Gatwick’s rail transformation which will see the doubling of rail capacity at Gatwick by 2020, and ultimately a near trebling by 2035.

New trains are just the start, with a new rail station on its way, more trains, and an improved network which will help boost the passenger experience for Gatwick’s rail users.”

As part of the testing process, a newly branded train stopped off briefly at Gatwick recently giving members of the public on the platform a sneak preview of the new train.