The present station was opened by British Rail in 1958 and was built
on the original Gatwick racecourse, which it was intended to served from
its original inception in 1891.
Over 11 million people pass through Gatwick every year.
Chronology
- The station site started operating as Gatwick for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR).
- The original was closed in 1876 but was reopened by the LBSCR in 1891.
- It was renamed Gatwick Racecourse in 1946 then renamed Gatwick Airport on 27 May 1958.
- The first Gatwick Airport station was on the site of Tinsley
Green which closed the day after the Airport was opened. Major
rebuilding work took place between 1967 and 1968, with further work in
the 1980s.
- Gatwick Airport station is probably the world’s first station dedicated to serving an airport.
Station design
- The present upper level concourse deck was designed by the British Rail Southern regional architect’s office under N. G. Wikeley