More nonsense from the incompetent GTR "Gatwick Express" staff.

[jon0844]

Those make no sense and should just be branded as Southern services.

It seems the 387s can't easily be changed from one TOC/brand to another. GTR has solved the problem on the GN services by now making trains say 'the service to' with no name at all.

Ideally, they'd not only get rid of the premium but dual-brand like GA on the Stansted Express services. Then you could just run Southern trains, but call them Gatwick Express similar to how FCC had the Cambridge Cruiser (still a FCC service).

GatEx is just a mess and needs sorting, but it clearly won't when it's a great moneyspinner.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ideally, they'd not only get rid of the premium but dual-brand like GA on the Stansted Express services. Then you could just run Southern trains, but call them Gatwick Express

No, that would be of little or no benefit, to be honest. It's better as a segregated service but without a premium so *all* the airport passengers (except those wanting intermediate stations or Thameslink) use it and don't crowd out commuter trains with their baggage etc.

 

[bb21]

Inconvenient *******s!

Nothing wrong with it, if the member of staff is genuinely unsure or unaware he was wrong.

Sometimes it's the customers who were wrong.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Nothing wrong with it, if the member of staff is genuinely unsure or unaware he was wrong.

Sometimes it's the customers who were wrong.

It is more the implication that the member of staff is doing you a favour when in reality that is not the case. If the member of staff is actually unsure, then they should just refrain from making such a comment.

 

[yorkie]

True, though if you could board a non-stop service at Gatwick which didn't cost more, didn't take longer (that they do now is just recovery time) and near ensured you a seat, why wouldn't you?

It's not just recovery time! The 1800 for example is stuck behind the 1757 and doesn't use the fast platform at Victoria and may have to wait outside the station to terminate. Trains in the other direction often have to wait for a "premium" platform to become available (otherwise the company 'loses' £11.80 from each tourist using Oyster/Contactless)

 

[jon0844]

No, that would be of little or no benefit, to be honest. It's better as a segregated service but without a premium so *all* the airport passengers (except those wanting intermediate stations or Thameslink) use it and don't crowd out commuter trains with their baggage etc.

I meant it so trains would be interchangeable, so when a train continues on it would simply look like another Southern train. The GatEx ones would be Southern trains that only do one stop.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I meant it so trains would be interchangeable, so when a train continues on it would simply look like another Southern train. The GatEx ones would be Southern trains that only do one stop.

Yes, I don't support that. The service is better fully-segregated, so airport passengers and their typical slowness compared with commuters as they are often occasional users are kept out of the way of commuters (for the benefit of both sets of people), and so that a train can always be ready to board in a leisurely manner at both Victoria and Gatwick.

 

[jon0844]

Yes, I don't support that. The service is better fully-segregated, so airport passengers and their typical slowness compared with commuters as they are often occasional users are kept out of the way of commuters (for the benefit of both sets of people), and so that a train can always be ready to board in a leisurely manner at both Victoria and Gatwick.

They would be segregated naturally, as nobody would board a train going only to Gatwick with no other stops. It's just the train wouldn't be separately branded, no special fares and no need for special gates.

Gatwick Express would just become a name, like Cambridge Cruiser, to help tourists identify the faster services and satisfy an airport wanting the prestige of an airport train.

Currently trains are sometimes substituted and you get a southern train as GatEx and vice versa.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oh I see, I thought you meant GatEx services would become Southern services on departure south from Gatwick, rather than being separate Gatwick-only fast services.

I really don't care what colour they are painted.

 

[jon0844]

Oh I see, I thought you meant GatEx services would become Southern services on departure south from Gatwick, rather than being separate Gatwick-only fast services.

I really don't care what colour they are painted.

Nor me, but there are issues right now with the announcements and the risk of people boarding the wrong train. To have a Southern branded train that turns out to be GatEx (and will arrive at Victoria at the 'other' gates) is a problem.

I think the way GA does things is fine, and there would be no premium for using the non-stop train. It would just be the train that tourists would opt to use, removing them from ordinary services more often than not.

If we have to keep paths for GatEx, the trains shouldn't be empty half the time, while people on Southern trains suffer with extra people and bags.

It won't happen obviously - there's a shed load of money to be made from milking tourists. I'm surprised they didn't try this on the Stansted Express, although I realise that they sort of did it by making it more expensive to go there than a station further along the line.

All rather underhand and cheeky, but only business..

 

[Kite159]

Stansted is different to Gatwick in the way that the airport is on a branch, so the only services from London which call at the airport are those branded Stansted Express.

Unlike Gatwick which has many trains from London calling

 

[jon0844]

Stansted is different to Gatwick in the way that the airport is on a branch, so the only services from London which call at the airport are those branded Stansted Express.

Unlike Gatwick which has many trains from London calling

Yes, that is indeed true. But I still think it could work, or indeed should work, although it's all just for discussion as it won't ever happen. The airport wants a branded service, everyone selling tickets to tourists makes a nice bit of money, so 'everyone' is happy.

 

[bb21]

It is more the implication that the member of staff is doing you a favour when in reality that is not the case. If the member of staff is actually unsure, then they should just refrain from making such a comment.

Perhaps they can be worded better if unsure, although in most cases I would wage they were convinced they were right, so in their eyes, they were indeed "doing you a favour".

A lot of it goes down to the quality of training. You will also find that knowledge amongst team-leaders and even more senior staff can be exceptionally poor.

No excuses, but that's just the reality. Until the system is massively simplified, it ain't gonna realistically get better.

 

[Howardh]

I've just put Gatwick to London Stations in the Journey Planner - and it comes up with several fares; Gatwick to London Victoria £19.90 single, London to St Pancras £7.90.

If wanted to end up at Euston, is there anything stopping me getting the train to St. Pancras and getting off at Thameslink, with that single ticket, - and transferring to Euston from there? If the problem would be I need a second ticket Thameslink - Euston, would I be able to tap in and out with my card??

**Yes, I'm aware that it's easy to go to St. Pancras and walk....it's just a top-of-my-head example!!**

 

[najaB]

.If wanted to end up at Euston, is there anything stopping me getting the train to St. Pancras and getting off at Thameslink, with that single ticket, - and transferring to Euston from there?

I suppose it depends on if the destination was London Terminals or London U1.

 

[swt class 450]

Some more nonsense from the useless gestapo yesterday. A new man working at the barriers (i havent seen him before) didnt like my ticket because the text on the ticket was slanted (it was printed from an Avantix machine which often dont print the text very straght). He said he couldnt tell if it was a real legit ticket! I basically told him that him that he was talking nonsense and after about three minutes of arguing he let me through. I dont see how these people can be this incompetent! I think like others have said they just like to cause trouble!

 

[Howardh]

I suppose it depends on if the destination was London Terminals or London U1.

If that cheap ticket had "London Terminals" on - then that could be used to Victoria on the same train as the £19.90 ticket?? I'm baffled by the whole thing...do National Express run a coach??

 

[najaB]

If that cheap ticket had "London Terminals" on - then that could be used to Victoria on the same train as the £19.90 ticket?? I'm baffled by the whole thing...do National Express run a coach??

The £7.90 ticket is, I assume, this one: GTW-STP, which is issued to St Pancras rather than London Terminals.

 

[Howardh]

The £7.90 ticket is, I assume, this one: GTW-STP, which is issued to St Pancras rather than London Terminals.

On the National Rail it directs me to Chiltern Railways where I can buy one now for £10.30 Gatwick - St. Pancras leaving after 12 noon today - standard single, no (apparent) restrictions. Dunno if it's print-at-home or collect at station.

EDIT; the £7.90 is on Virgin East Coast, again seems to be a walk-on Gatwick - London St Pancras leaving at 12.10.

Depart:
Gatwick Airport dep. 12:10
Arrive:
London St Pancras, 13:03
Changes: 0 Duration: 0h 53m
Passengers
1 Adult
Super Off-Peak Single£7.90
Not valid for travel on London Underground services.

Valid on off-peak services by the route shown. Valid for 1 day only.

 

[JaJaWa]

On the National Rail it directs me to Chiltern Railways where I can buy one now for £10.30 Gatwick - St. Pancras leaving after 12 noon today - standard single, no (apparent) restrictions. Dunno if it's print-at-home or collect at station.

EDIT; the £7.90 is on Virgin East Coast, again seems to be a walk-on Gatwick - London St Pancras leaving at 12.10.

They are Singles from Gatwick Airport to St. Pancras. £7.90 is the Super Off Peak fare, and £10.30 is the Anytime fare. Some have argued that you could use them on the Gatwick Express to Victoria, then walk to Blackfriars and take Thameslink to St. Pancras. I'm sure that has it's own thread.

 

[najaB]

Some have argued that you could use them on the Gatwick Express to Victoria, then walk to Blackfriars and take Thameslink to St. Pancras.

Seems reasonable to me - they are routed 'Not Underground'.

 

[Deerfold]

If that cheap ticket had "London Terminals" on - then that could be used to Victoria on the same train as the £19.90 ticket?? I'm baffled by the whole thing...do National Express run a coach??

Sure do.

Once or twice an hour all day. Bit slow though.

http://www.nationalexpress.com/assets/uploads/pdf/timetables/RA3.pdf

 

[infobleep]

Seems reasonable to me - they are routed 'Not Underground'.

Out of interest haa anyone on here tried to use such a ticket on Gatwick Express service?

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[gray1404]

Out of interest haa anyone on here tried to use such a ticket on Gatwick Express service?

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I have used one on a Gatwick Express service that was being extended to Brighton. However, the service was not departing from the regular GX platforms and I simply got waved through the manual barrier. They guy was not checking the tickets in detail.

 

[Agent_c]

Out of interest haa anyone on here tried to use such a ticket on Gatwick Express service?

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I can imagine it now "We go through a tunnel, thats underground innit?"

 

[yorkie]

I can imagine it now "We go through a tunnel, thats underground innit?"

I get the joke but providing London Underground is not used, it looks valid to me. St Pancras to Victoria (or Blackfriars to Victoria) cross-London interchange doesn't have to be made by LU if the passenger transfers by bus, taxi, cycle or on foot.

 

[infobleep]

I get the joke but providing London Underground is not used, it looks valid to me. St Pancras to Victoria (or Blackfriars to Victoria) cross-London interchange doesn't have to be made by LU if the passenger transfers by bus, taxi, cycle or on foot.

The passenger could of course choose to use his contactless card to travel on the tube between the two stations.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[mugam4]

Seems reasonable to me - they are routed 'Not Underground'.

It really is a much better deal than the same ticket from Blackfriars, which is 'Thameslink Only'. It's often useful to have flexibility when travelling the BML..

 

[JaJaWa]

It really is a much better deal than the same ticket from Blackfriars, which is 'Thameslink Only'. It's often useful to have flexibility when travelling the BML..

All services on the BML are operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.

 

[bb21]

All services on the BML are operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.

Oi, behave.