Gatwick Airport railway station is on the Brighton Main Line in West Sussex, England. It serves Gatwick Airport, down the line from via . The platforms are about to the east of the airport's South Terminal, with the ticket office above the platforms and station entrances and exits directly connected to the terminal. The station is also connected to the airport's North Terminal by the Airport Shuttle people-mover. Gatwick Airport is the busiest station in South East England region (which excludes London) as of the 2023-24 usage statistics. There have been two stations at Gatwick, sited about from each other. It is the busiest station in both West Sussex and South East England, and the sixth busiest station in the UK outside of London.

The first railway station, Gatwick, opened in September 1891. It fell out of use after the opening of Tinsley Green station, which was renamed Gatwick Airport in September 1935. In 1946, it was renamed Gatwick Racecourse, to reflect its association with the neighbouring Gatwick Racecourse,. The stations had a reversal of fortunes in the 1950s as a result of a government decision to expand and develop the Beehive airport terminal into London's second airport. Gatwick Racecourse station was rebuilt to serve Gatwick Airport, and is integrated into its terminal. On 27 May 1958, the rebuilt station, which took over the name Gatwick Airport, was opened in conjunction with a regular train service; and services serving the former Tinsley Green station were discontinued.

Train services are provided by Southern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Western Railway. When viewed from the air (or in satellite imagery), the station's British Rail logo etched on the roof is visible. Between late 2010 and early 2014, new facilities were built at the station, among them platform 7; infrastructure was renewed and the concourse was refurbished. The station was one of 18 managed by Network Rail, but, in 2012, management was transferred to Southern. In May 2018, the station was named as the second-least popular major station in the UK.

History

Gatwick/Gatwick Racecourse Station

In September 1891, Gatwick station was constructed on the present site to serve Gatwick Racecourse, but operated only on race days. The facilities included passing loops and sidings, which enabled race trains to be held without impeding regular traffic on the Brighton Main Line. During the First World War, the sidings were extended to accommodate munitions trains heading for Newhaven.

In 1946, Gatwick station was renamed Gatwick Racecourse until 1958. The station had fallen out of regular use after the opening of nearby Tinsley Green/Gatwick Airport Station. In the early 1950s, the airport was expanded over land formerly occupied by the racecourse, and it was decided to rebuild the station. The station was integrated into the airport terminal via an upper level concourse designed by British Rail Southern Region. On 27 May 1958, the rebuilt station, Gatwick Airport, opened with a regular train service.

Tinsley Green/Gatwick Airport Station

thumb|right|Site of the original Gatwick Airport station at Tinsley Green

On 30 September 1935 Tinsley Green station was opened south of the present station. In the 1980s, the station was refurbished.

Redevelopment

thumb|The station in 1979.

thumb|The railway station's main hall after its refurbishment

On 13 October 2010, a £53 million redevelopment programme was announced to provide another platform capable of accommodating 12-car trains, refurbishment of the concourse, and track and signal upgrades. Escalators and lifts were provided for platforms 5 and 6, replacing a staircase to achieve improved circulation. Constructed by VolkerFitzpatrick, platform 7 is served by a loop from the down fast line and used by services which formerly used at platform 5. VolkerFitzpatrick were responsible for track and signalling modifications. This has allowed platforms 5 and 6 to be dedicated to Gatwick Express services, thereby eliminating previous conflicts with slower services when they crossed to platforms 1 and 2. The project was finished on schedule and budget, despite extreme weather conditions during the winter of 2013/2014. In April 2018, Network Rail submitted a planning application for modernising the station; doubling the size of the concourse, widening two platforms, and improving connections to the airport terminal. It was done in partnership with Gatwick Airport authorities, the Coast to Capital local enterprise partnership and the Department for Transport. The expansion is an element of a five-year programme, costed at £1.11 billion, announced by Gatwick Airport in early 2018.

Construction on the new concourse began in November 2020. The refurbished station opened on 21 November 2023.

Services

As of February 2024, train services at Gatwick Airport are operated by Southern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Western Railway and split between seven platforms:

  • Platform 1: Thameslink services to Bedford and Peterborough via Redhill
  • Platform 2: Services to London Victoria (Southern) and Reading (Great Western Railway)
  • Platform 3: Thameslink services to Three Bridges and Horsham
  • Platform 4: Services to London Victoria, London Bridge, Bedford and Cambridge
  • Platform 5: Northbound services to London Victoria (including Gatwick Express services) and interchangeable with Platform 4
  • Platform 6: Southbound services to Brighton (Gatwick Express), Bognor Regis, Portsmouth Harbour and Littlehampton and interchangeable with Platform 7
  • Platform 7: Southbound services to Brighton (Thameslink), Ore and Eastbourne

Services at the station are as follows:

Southern

thumb|A Southern Class 377 at Gatwick Airport

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:

  • 6 tph to
  • 2 tph to of which 1 continues to
  • 2 tph to via
  • 2 tph to and Portsmouth Harbour, dividing at

On Sundays, a London Victoria to Brighton service runs half hourly. However, services between London Victoria and Eastbourne do not run. In addition, services between London Victoria and Littlehampton reduce to hourly, and the services to Bognor Regis and Portsmouth Harbour also reduce to hourly and divide at Barnham, instead of Horsham.

Services at Gatwick Airport are operated using EMUs.

Gatwick Express

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is: