Gatwick Airport Station closed due to suspicious package - now to reopen shortly (22/11)

[Shimbleshanks]

The BBC and other news sites are reporting that Gatwick Airport station is closed, along with Gatwick South air terminal, due to a suspicious package. The North Terminal is still open, but as far as I know the only public transport access is via South terminal, so only car users can get there.
I've also seen other reports about the area around the US Embassy at Vauxhall beiing closed off.

 

[Recessio]

Various news sources are confirming there is no link between the US Embassy and Gatwick Airport incidents.

From the Mail Online: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...uth-terminal-evacuated-security-incident.html

Sussex Police said it had been called to the South Terminal at 8.20am following the discovery of 'suspected prohibited item in luggage'.

A bomb squad has been deployed to the busy terminal as a 'precaution'.

Police did not elaborate further on the nature of the discovery - but are understood not to be linking the incident to an earlier bomb scare at the US Embassy in London.

 

[zwk500]

The BBC and other news sites are reporting that Gatwick Airport station is closed, along with Gatwick South air terminal, due to a suspicious package. The North Terminal is still open, but as far as I know the only public transport access is via South terminal, so only car users can get there.

The rail station has been shut, trains are running through non-stop. People are being advised to get taxis from nearby stations to the North Terminal.

 

[infobleep]

I note that Gatwick Express branded services are not stopping at Gatwick Airport.

Makes a change from the Gatick Express branded trains running services not branded Gatwick Express.

 

[zwk500]

Security alert now resolved, Gatwick Airport statement on twitter says the rail station will reopen once the terminal is fully reopened. Going to take a while to recover service you'd have thought, as it'll be really busy clearing the crowds at first.

 

[infobleep]

Security alert now resolved, Gatwick Airport statement on twitter says the rail station will reopen once the terminal is fully reopened. Going to take a while to recover service you'd have thought, as it'll be really busy clearing the crowds at first.

As services were passing through the station anyway, save those that terminate there, I don't think it will be too difficult to recover the services.

They might be busy of course.

I haven't heard how many passengers have missed their flights. Must be some, especially those whose flights left from the north terminal and they were relying on public transport.

Trains are now stopping at Gatick Airport. The first one will be the 15 15, due af 15:18. Still some shown to be skipping Gatwick Airport but they might stop I guess.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The Independent's travel reporter Simon Calder was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live a little earlier this afternoon and mentioned that he could only get to Gatwick Airport, presumably to report on the incident (whilst the station and South terminal were both closed) by taking the train to a nearby "small suburban station" (= Horley) and then walking the last mile or so.

x.com

x.com

Extract...

Hack for reaching (or leaving) Gatwick North Terminal by train. From London, Brighton, etc: take a train to Horley, about a 20-minute walk from North Terminal. It is a slightly tricky journey and not ideal for those with heavy luggage.

 

[dk1]

The Independent's travel reporter Simon Calder was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live a little earlier this afternoon and mentioned that he could only get to Gatwick Airport, presumably to report on the incident (whilst the station and South terminal were both closed) by taking the train to a nearby "small suburban station" (= Horley) and then walking the last mile or so.

x.com

x.com

Extract...

Could be worse. There’s a nice Wetherspoon and a large Waitrose outside Horley station

 

[infobleep]

The Independent's travel reporter Simon Calder was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live a little earlier this afternoon and mentioned that he could only get to Gatwick Airport, presumably to report on the incident (whilst the station and South terminal were both closed) by taking the train to a nearby "small suburban station" (= Horley) and then walking the last mile or so.

x.com

x.com

Extract...

That is a useful tip and not one I have thought of before.

I guess it is very rare for trains to stop at Horley and not Garwick Airport. So if one is disrupted getting to Garwick Airport, they will almost always be disrupted getting to Horley.

I note that some trains were shown as stopping at Gatwick Airport earlier. I assume that is just because someone forgot to cancel the stop and it isn't possible to block remove a station from multiple live train service informations'.

 

[Howardh]

At the airport people who had already gone through security were turfed out and I suppose would have to go through again!

If both terminals are available but one is closed, then if the station was closed then pax couldn't get to the open one unless they found alternative means? Can't understand why the station was closed unless it's simply to avoid a backlog of pax who had nowhere to go?

 

[infobleep]

At the airport people who had already gone through security were turfed out and I suppose would have to go through again!

If both terminals are available but one is closed, then if the station was closed then pax couldn't get to the open one unless they found alternative means? Can't understand why the station was closed unless it's simply to avoid a backlog of pax who had nowhere to go?

Is it possible to stop people going into the main airport terminal from the station? There is of course the new concourse area for platforms 3 to 7, which only allows people to exit the railway station.

What did they do for arriving passengers into Gatwick Airport, as in those already in the building going through security to get to the UK or transit between flights?

 

[Somewhere]

As services were passing through the station anyway, save those that terminate there, I don't think it will be too difficult to recover the services.

How many driver changes are there at Gatwick? Timetables don't include crew workings

 

[brad465]

I note that Gatwick Express branded services are not stopping at Gatwick Airport.

Makes a change from the Gatick Express branded trains running services not branded Gatwick Express.

Does anything skip Gatwick Airport station these days in normal timetabling?

 

[infobleep]

Does anything skip Gatwick Airport station these days in normal timetabling?

Yes some peak services to and from Littlehampton to London Bridge

How many driver changes are there at Gatwick? Timetables don't include crew workings

No idea. I hadn't considered this.

The BBC said there was delayed but when I looked at some of rhe reasons, they seemed to be due to a signal failure and not the station closure.

 

[dk1]

How many driver changes are there at Gatwick? Timetables don't include crew workings

I thought that happened at Three Bridges.

 

[yorksrob]

I've been ushered via Horley during engineering works.

Decent medium sized station with a bus drop off alongside, as I recall.

 

[infobleep]

I've been ushered via Horley during engineering works.

Decent medium sized station with a bus drop off alongside, as I recall.

I had forgotten about that. I once did it, along with a bus from Redhill to Reigate for fun rather than get a direct bus to Reigate. It actually worked but obviously wasn't recommended.

 

[800001]

At the airport people who had already gone through security were turfed out and I suppose would have to go through again!

If both terminals are available but one is closed, then if the station was closed then pax couldn't get to the open one unless they found alternative means? Can't understand why the station was closed unless it's simply to avoid a backlog of pax who had nowhere to go?

The station is classed as part of South terminal.
South terminal was evacuated so station closed.
To my knowledge when you come out of the station you are immediately into the terminal.
If customers can’t get to terminal where do you suggest they put the passengers?
A decision like that is not made very lightly. They do not do it just for the fun!

 

[yorksrob]

I had forgotten about that. I once did it, along with a bus from Redhill to Reigate for fun rather than get a direct bus to Reigate. It actually worked but obviously wasn't recommended.

Indeed. Fewer people needing it when I was there, compared to today I think.

That said, I think it still has platforms on the fast lines, so more trains could pick up people if need be.

 

[The Planner]

Apparently Chester station with the same issue currently?

 

[zwk500]

Apparently Chester station with the same issue currently?

Safety through the roof, closing Chester because of a problem at Gatwick

But yes, does appear to be a security alert at Chester station, possibly a separate thread though?

 

[FGW_DID]

Can't understand why the station was closed unless it's simply to avoid a backlog of pax who had nowhere to go?

The station fell within the required distance for the Police cordon.

 

[Somewhere]

I thought that happened at Three Bridges.

Can happen anywhere

 

[westcoaster]

My 9T was not to stop at Gatwick but to call at Horley additionally. Gatwick was dead not a single person including staff to be seen on the platforms.

How many driver changes are there at Gatwick? Timetables don't include crew workings

I don't think many outside the peaks. They could easily be changed to Three bridges PNB point.

That is a useful tip and not one I have thought of before.

I guess it is very rare for trains to stop at Horley and not Garwick Airport. So if one is disrupted getting to Garwick Airport, they will almost always be disrupted getting to Horley.

I note that some trains were shown as stopping at Gatwick Airport earlier. I assume that is just because someone forgot to cancel the stop and it isn't possible to block remove a station from multiple live train service informations'.

Could be quicker there is a public footpath that follows and crosses the railway, or not cross the railway and cut through passed a car park.

 

[800001]

My 9T was not to stop at Gatwick but to call at Horley additionally. Gatwick was dead not a single person including staff to be seen on the platforms.


I don't think many outside the peaks. They could easily be changed to Three bridges PNB point.


Could be quicker there is a public footpath that follows and crosses the railway.

There would not be anyone on the platform at Gatwick as it had been evacuated! It fell within the exclusion zone as it is part of South terminal which was evacuated!

 

[standish1]

Chester Station reopened about 20.00pm

 

[skyhigh]

Chester Station reopened about 20.00pm

Chester??

 

[800001]

Chester??

Post 21^^

 

[Dave W]

There would not be anyone on the platform at Gatwick as it had been evacuated! It fell within the exclusion zone as it is part of South terminal which was evacuated!

Of interest to me, at least, is the concept of an exclusion zone (fair enough there should be one!) which is not dangerous enough to stop trains running through it at all. Surely a cordon is a closed shop, nothing in or out. Except the trains passing through?

Perhaps this appears as if I am being deliberately obtuse - that's certainly not the intention - but if it's serious enough to get everyone well back enough including a rail station, trains shouldn't be running through said station, should they?

Without divulging sensitive details, I'd be interested to hear from industry employees versed in this sort of response about the justifications involved.

 

[800001]

Of interest to me, at least, is the concept of an exclusion zone (fair enough there should be one!) which is not dangerous enough to stop trains running through it at all. Surely a cordon is a closed shop, nothing in or out. Except the trains passing through?

Perhaps this appears as if I am being deliberately obtuse - that's certainly not the intention - but if it's serious enough to get everyone well back enough including a rail station, trains shouldn't be running through said station, should they?

Without divulging sensitive details, I'd be interested to hear from industry employees versed in this sort of response about the justifications involved.

The station exits immediately into the south terminal hence why it was closed, with the terminal closed you have no where to send the passengers who alight from trains, hence why trains failed to call.