Rail capacity at Gatwick airport will double over the next five years as new trains and track improvements are introduced.
The new Thameslink trains serving the airport are to begin service from spring 2016 on the Brighton to Bedford line.
From 2018, these new trains will also start operating on two new direct services connecting Gatwick to both Peterborough and Cambridge, following completion of the £6.5 billion Thameslink infrastructure upgrade programme.
Gatwick Express trains will also start new direct services between the airport and London Victoria from early 2016, with 108 new carriages built by Bombadier.
Gatwick said the trains will deliver more seats and mean rail capacity will double and a train will depart the airport for London every three minutes.
The planned hourly timetable:
- Four dedicated Gatwick Express trains to Victoria
- Six trains to Victoria – originating from East and West Coastway, Horsham/Littlehampton, and Three Bridges/Haywards Heath
- Four trains to Bedford via London Bridge – originating from Gatwick and Brighton
- Two trains to Cambridge via London Bridge – originating from Brighton
- Two trains to Peterborough via London Bridge – originating from Horsham
- Two trains to London Bridge – originating from Littlehampton/West Coastway, and Haywards Heath/Three Bridges
Gatwick’s chief commercial officer Guy Stephenson, said: “The new high frequency service that will serve Gatwick will transform rail journeys for our passengers, with capacity doubling and a train to London every three minutes.
"Crucially, the new trains will be much more reliable and will be stacked with amenities suited to the needs of air travellers. Combined with robust new track and signalling systems, Gatwick’s passengers will experience a really pleasant and dependable service.
"Overall, the improvements to Gatwick’s rail service means that 15 million people will be brought within 60 minutes of Gatwick by rail – the best reach of any UK airport.”