Gatwick Express - hiding in plain sight?

[RochdalePioneers]

Hi all, first time flying into Gatwick for a while and headed to the station for a train into Victoria. Various trains advertised as "Southern".

Realised the one I was heading for was a Gatwick Express set - so would head into the double the fare platforms at Victoria.

Am a little amazed that they don't advertise these as GX on the screens. Very easy to entrap people onto their special not really any faster train to chivvy that extra fare off you...

Now on the 3 mins later SN service not heading for the double dare platforms...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Gatwick Express is presently suspended, those red sets are running regular Southern services, so you would not be charged more.

 

[hexagon789]

Hi all, first time flying into Gatwick for a while and headed to the station for a train into Victoria. Various trains advertised as "Southern".

Realised the one I was heading for was a Gatwick Express set - so would head into the double the fare platforms at Victoria.

Am a little amazed that they don't advertise these as GX on the screens. Very easy to entrap people onto their special not really any faster train to chivvy that extra fare off you...

Now on the 3 mins later SN service not heading for the double dare platforms...

I understood Gatwick Express was still suspended?

 

[mmh]

Hi all, first time flying into Gatwick for a while and headed to the station for a train into Victoria. Various trains advertised as "Southern".

Realised the one I was heading for was a Gatwick Express set - so would head into the double the fare platforms at Victoria.

Am a little amazed that they don't advertise these as GX on the screens. Very easy to entrap people onto their special not really any faster train to chivvy that extra fare off you...

Now on the 3 mins later SN service not heading for the double dare platforms...

Gatwick Express services are still not running since being suspended during Covid. Gatwick Express branded *trains* are used, but as the signs and announcements would have said, these are Southern services.

 

[skyhigh]

Am a little amazed that they don't advertise these as GX on the screens.

As others have said, there are no GX services at the moment so that's why it's not shown on the screens as a GX service.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

Rightho! I pulled up RTT, saw it was heading for the GatEx platforms at Victoria and thought better of it ...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Rightho! I pulled up RTT, saw it was heading for the GatEx platforms at Victoria and thought better of it ...

They've opened the gate between the GatEx platforms and the other gateline.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

So out of interest when / if they do restart it have I got it right that they want an extra £9 to save 2 minutes...? I remember the old push pull 73 sets which were genuinely quick. Hadn't realised there was such little difference now between the "express" and the semi-fast.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So out of interest when / if they do restart it have I got it right that they want an extra £9 to save 2 minutes...? I remember the old push pull 73 sets which were genuinely quick. Hadn't realised there was such little difference now between the "express" and the semi-fast.

It's called a "tourist tax".

 

[Djgr]

It's called a "tourist tax".

I prefer the word "scam".

 

[Bletchleyite]

I prefer the word "scam".

There are few major airports worldwide that don't do that sort of thing. Do your research and save a packet.

 

[hexagon789]

So out of interest when / if they do restart it have I got it right that they want an extra £9 to save 2 minutes...? I remember the old push pull 73 sets which were genuinely quick. Hadn't realised there was such little difference now between the "express" and the semi-fast.

You mean for an extra 2 mins, the Brighton fasts are on average 29 mins Gatwick Airport to Victoria including a stop at East Croydon. In the 2019 timetable GatEx took 31 mins non-stop!

 

[mmh]

See also the Heathrow Express and, for our HK correspondent, the Hong Kong Airport Express!

Like elsewhere in the world, there's a premium fare for avoiding the "normal" commuter routes.

 

[Fenchurch SP]

You mean for an extra 2 mins, the Brighton fasts are on average 29 mins Gatwick Airport to Victoria including a stop at East Croydon. In the 2019 timetable GatEx took 31 mins non-stop!

Also on worse trains. I would pay more to avoid having to sit in a Class 387.

 

[mmh]

Also on worse trains. I would pay more to avoid having to sit in a Class 387.

I doubt there are many people not on this forum or employed by Southern / GX who could tell the difference between any of their Electrostars, other than the colours they're painted!

 

[Sussex Ben]

Also on worse trains. I would pay more to avoid having to sit in a Class 387.

Each to their own. I'm happy to pay more (albeit at priv rate) to travel on GX to avoid the oiks that often fill up the trains between Victoria and East Croydon.

 

[ExRes]

Each to their own. I'm happy to pay more (albeit at priv rate) to travel on GX to avoid the oiks that often fill up the trains between Victoria and East Croydon.

Seconded

 

[fgwrich]

Also on worse trains. I would pay more to avoid having to sit in a Class 387.

Good luck with that unfortunately - Your choices at Gatwick are; Electrostar (any type of 377), Electrostar (387) or Desiro City (Everyones near hated 700). If I was heading anywhere else but Vic, I'd probably take the 700 and change.

 

[zero]

See also the Heathrow Express and, for our HK correspondent, the Hong Kong Airport Express!

Like elsewhere in the world, there's a premium fare for avoiding the "normal" commuter routes.

The Hong Kong Airport Express doesn't have a commuter equivalent on the exact same route like the HEx and GX.

Getting to the Tung Chung line from the airport is quite a hassle. The Airport Express also adds value with a luggage check-in service (outside of the covid period)

In the UK, MAN, BHX, SEN and arguably LTN airports don't have a premium fare equivalent. Not sure of the fares to STN.

Not sure if a premium equivalent is offered more often than not in the rest of the world, but that's for the International subforum.

 

[mmh]

The Hong Kong Airport Express doesn't have a commuter equivalent on the exact same route like the HEx and GX.

Getting to the Tung Chung line from the airport is quite a hassle. The Airport Express also adds value with a luggage check-in service (outside of the covid period)

It has lots and lots of airport buses, which is how someone who didn't want to pay the premium fare would go - I did. Unless you are staying very close to the Airport Express station, to use the airport check-in you'll be using a taxi to and from the station, so another "premium" option - otherwise there's little point to it other than checking in bags in advance, or as a novelty.

 

[dastocks]

You mean for an extra 2 mins, the Brighton fasts are on average 29 mins Gatwick Airport to Victoria including a stop at East Croydon. In the 2019 timetable GatEx took 31 mins non-stop!

In the 2019 timetable the Brighton fasts were operated by GX, pretty much as they are currently shown on RTT after the May timetable change this year.

 

[hexagon789]

In the 2019 timetable the Brighton fasts were operated by GX, pretty much as they are currently shown on RTT after the May timetable change this year.

32mins off-peak GatEx vs 33 off-peak for Southern with two extra stops then from the 2019 timetable. So the premium saved one 60 seconds.

 

[mmh]

32mins off-peak GatEx vs 33 off-peak for Southern with two extra stops then from the 2019 timetable. So the premium saved one 60 seconds.

More importantly, it saved being on a train packed with "local" traffic from East Croydon and elsewhere, which is the real point of running services non-stop to Gatwick.

 

[geoffk]

Edinburgh Airport on the tram is another "tourist tax"/rip-off. The fare to Newcastle Airport on Metro doesn't appear to have a premium.

 

[Need2]

As others have said, there are no GX services at the moment so that's why it's not shown on the screens as a GX service.

They’re back from 3rd April

 

[Djgr]

There are few major airports worldwide that don't do that sort of thing. Do your research and save a packet.

But these offer something extra for the extra money e.g. Oslo, Vienna.

It is like a hotel offering Executive Rooms for higher prices that are exactly the same as standard rooms.

It is a scam, a disgrace and should not be allowed. Tourists are a key benefit to London's economy and should not be mugged on arrival.

 

[mmh]

But these offer something extra for the extra money e.g. Oslo, Vienna.

It is like a hotel offering Executive Rooms for higher prices that are exactly the same as standard rooms.

It is a scam, a disgrace and should not be allowed. Tourists are a key benefit to London's economy and should not be mugged on arrival.

Hotel rooms at different prices? Whatever next. Somebody should start a website and make lots of annoying TV adverts to let people know that happens.

Variable pricing for the same service, or premium rates for a nominal premium service are hardly rare in travel and leisure.

For a railway analogy, a passenger has absolutely no idea how much, if anything, the person next to them has paid for their journey. Just the same as flights, just the same as hotels.

 

[Tractor86]

Edinburgh Airport on the tram is another "tourist tax"/rip-off. The fare to Newcastle Airport on Metro doesn't appear to have a premium.

No the Newcastle one is included in the ‘standard’ ticket

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

They’re back from 3rd April

Not shown as such on GTR train brand timetable updates currently

 

[yorkie]

Hi all, first time flying into Gatwick for a while and headed to the station for a train into Victoria. Various trains advertised as "Southern".

Realised the one I was heading for was a Gatwick Express set - so would head into the double the fare platforms at Victoria.

Am a little amazed that they don't advertise these as GX on the screens. Very easy to entrap people onto their special not really any faster train to chivvy that extra fare off you...

Now on the 3 mins later SN service not heading for the double dare platforms...

GTR are not currently branding any of their trains "Gatwick Express" regardless of anything to suggest otherwise.

GTR are not allowed to charge premium fares, and at the current time have taken the premium gates out of use, though the unlawful charging is likely to return from 3rd April

If anyone is incorrectly charged a higher than expected PAYG fare, or an excess/penalty fare, they should request a refund from GTR, which should be forthcoming (and indeed has been paid out by GTR in every case that I am aware of) and in the event that GTR does not pay out, they will be able to claim compensation, subject to a collective competition case being allowed to proceed ( https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...claim-against-govia-thameslink-railway.219550 ).

Hotel rooms at different prices? Whatever next. Somebody should start a website and make lots of annoying TV adverts to let people know that happens.

Variable pricing for the same service, or premium rates for a nominal premium service are hardly rare in travel and leisure.

For a railway analogy, a passenger has absolutely no idea how much, if anything, the person next to them has paid for their journey. Just the same as flights, just the same as hotels.

The GTR branding pricing scandal is not in any way related to airline or hotel pricing. Any analogies are null & void.

In the 2019 timetable the Brighton fasts were operated by GX, pretty much as they are currently shown on RTT after the May timetable change this year.

I think you mean operated by GX branded rolling stock, not "operated by GX"; the trains are operated by GTR, who have a monopoly on the route. GX ceased to be a train company back in 2008.