The newly upgraded Gatwick Airport station boasts a range of a new facilities and features – all designed with you in mind.
A bigger and brighter station
The number of passengers using the station has risen over time: 14 million people used it in 2010, growing to more than 21 million in 2019. But the original station was not designed for such vast numbers.
So, we’ve now created a new, second concourse and airport entrance – doubling the space available for your use.
The existing station entrance and concourse has also been refurbished with new flooring, new wayfinding and 500m² of additional space, making it more welcoming and spacious.
As Jonathan Pollard, chief commercial officer at London Gatwick, says: “From today, airport passengers travelling by train will have a dramatically improved experience as they pass through the bigger, better and brighter new station concourse.”
A more accessible station
We’re passionate and committed to making our railway accessible to everyone. With that in mind, our teams have installed eight new escalators, five new lifts and four new stairways across the station. The five new lifts are located centrally on the platforms to provide step-free access between the concourse and the platforms.
You can also find a dedicated Special Assistance Point within the refurbished existing station concourse. Open 24/7, it provides assistance to anyone needing additional support on their journey.
The new wayfinding in the station now has tactile signage, including braille. There’s also hearing loops at key touch points along the route, such as the ticket retail and information point, helping everyone find their way around the station.
Jenny Saunders, customer services director for Govia Thameslink Railway, praises the upgrades: “I genuinely believe 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.”
Faster and smoother journeys
Wider platforms, new escalators, lifts and stairways all make it easier for you to board and alight trains more quickly. This means trains spend less time on platforms, reducing delays and providing you with more reliable train services.
Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, says she hopes the upgrades will encourage passengers to “ditch the car and travel by rail”.
Lucy adds: “This project is not just for those making their way to the airport, the work benefits passengers across the region by giving them quicker journeys and a more reliable timetable.”
In fact, we’ve remodelled the track in the Gatwick area to speed up journeys for anyone travelling on the Brighton Main Line between Brighton and London. This has helped reduce journey times to just one hour on some services.
