Travelling on a Southern train as a Gatwick Express service?!

[LudwigTails]

I am not kidding and nor this is not fake. It really did happen on the 21st April 2025. A friends had told me about this sudden allocation of a pair of Class 377s having to be running on a Gatwick Express diagram. As it was a really sudden notice and before I had though of how if Gatwick Express services are taken over by Southern. It’s a chance that I don’t want to miss so I quickly headed out and found the next diagram that departs out of Brighton.

I decided to go on 1W57 to London starting at around 19:39 and back to Brighton immediately on the same pair of 377s on 1W38 starting at 20:59. Fortunately those diagrams were the second/last diagram that the pair was running before it headed back to London and return to Streatham Hill Depot.

It was special to me that I get to ride a “upgraded” Gatwick Express service and hearing the onboard announcements on a 377 that you wouldn’t regularly hear. And experiencing skipping East Croydon and Clapham Junction on the a 377 is something I don’t think I can ever experience everyday as a passenger so it’s quite fun! I do giggle at times where I see passengers being very confused at a Southern train running a Gatwick Express service.

Overall a very fun unplanned day out.

 

[stadler]

I am not kidding and nor this is not fake. It really did happen on the 21st April 2025. A friends had told me about this sudden allocation of a pair of Class 377s having to be running on a Gatwick Express diagram. As it was a really sudden notice and before I had though of how if Gatwick Express services are taken over by Southern. It’s a chance that I don’t want to miss so I quickly headed out and found the next diagram that departs out of Brighton.

I decided to go on 1W57 to London starting at around 19:39 and back to Brighton immediately on the same pair of 377s on 1W38 starting at 20:59. Fortunately those diagrams were the second/last diagram that the pair was running before it headed back to London and return to Streatham Hill Depot.

It was special to me that I get to ride a “upgraded” Gatwick Express service and hearing the onboard announcements on a 377 that you wouldn’t regularly hear. And experiencing skipping East Croydon and Clapham Junction on the a 377 is something I don’t think I can ever experience everyday as a passenger so it’s quite fun! I do giggle at times where I see passengers being very confused at a Southern train running a Gatwick Express service.

Overall a very fun unplanned day out.

Nice upgrade for passengers. More comfortable than the ironing board seats. This kind of thing is becoming more and more common recently. I am aware of at least four occasions in the past couple months of 377s on GX services. Plus of course we now have dozens of 387s on SN services. Also mixed formations of 387/1s and 387/2s and 387/3s on the same train. It is such a mess. No wonder passengers get confused.

 

[LudwigTails]

Nice upgrade for passengers. More comfortable than the ironing board seats. This kind of thing is becoming more and more common recently. I am aware of at least four occasions in the past couple months of 377s on GX services. Plus of course we now have dozens of 387s on SN services. Also mixed formations of 387/1s and 387/2s and 387/3s on the same train. It is such a mess. No wonder passengers get confused.

4 occasions?? So the day I traveled on, it happened before or had it only happen after the fact since? I am honestly surprised that it happened more than once. Its usually the case of "they ran out of 377s" but now its "they ran out of 387s". Though I doubt it will happen again as time goes on when more 387(/1) are able to be transferred from Great Northern.

 

[stadler]

377 144 and 377 407 are currently working a Gatwick Express diagram today. They are on the 21:09 Brighton to London Victoria 22:09 service currently. This really is becoming more and more common.

 

[Bayum]

So if the trains are run using Southern branded units, is it classed as a Southern rather than Gatwick Express service?

 

[DavyCrocket]

Just now I am in an eight car Gatwick express formed of two 377 sets. Showing inside as Southern service. What’s the reckoning it’ll go to the Gatwick express platform at Victoria.

OBS mentioned not calling at Clapham or east Croydon and London Bridge tickets not valid. I didn’t hear if southern only not valid.

 

[DavyCrocket]

So if the trains are run using Southern branded units, is it classed as a Southern rather than Gatwick Express service?

Announcement said something like a Gatwick Express operated by Southern
Driver and OBS (only seen and heard south of Gatwick) was dressed as Southern

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Just now I am in an eight car Gatwick express formed of two 377 sets. Showing inside as Southern service. What’s the reckoning it’ll go to the Gatwick express platform at Victoria.

If it's the 21:09 from Brighton, it's showing on RealTimeTrains as expected in at platform 13, at London Victoria, at around 22:09.

 

[stadler]

So if the trains are run using Southern branded units, is it classed as a Southern rather than Gatwick Express service?

No it is still classified as a Gatwick Express service even though Southern branded 377s are operating it. The same when Southern branded 387/1s and 387/3s operate Gatwick Express services. Similarly there are many Southern services (especially London Victoria to Eastbourne and Brighton to Eastbourne services) formed of Gatwick Express branded 387/2s but they are still classified as Southern services. It is a mess. No wonder passengers find the railways so confusing.

 

[sqwizz]

My Gatwick Express a couple of weeks ago was partly a Southern 377 387, but to make it clear for everybody it still had Gatwick Express headrest covers in first class.

 

[stadler]

My Gatwick Express a couple of weeks ago was partly a Southern 377 too, but to make it clear for everybody it still had Gatwick Express headrest covers in first class.

Are you sure it was a Southern 377 and not a 387/1 or 387/3 unit. A train can not be partly a Southern 377 as they are unable to couple to 387 units in passenger service. It sounds like you were on a 387/1 or 387/3 unit as these have Southern logos and livery and Southern green seats.

 

[sqwizz]

Are you sure it was a Southern 377 and not a 387/1 or 387/3 unit. A train can not be partly a Southern 377 as they are unable to couple to 387 units in passenger service. It sounds like you were on a 387/1 or 387/3 unit as these have Southern logos and livery and Southern green seats.

Sorry, you're correct, I went back and checked a photo
[image of Southern 387/1 as GE]

 

[dastocks]

No it is still classified as a Gatwick Express service even though Southern branded 377s are operating it. The same when Southern branded 387/1s and 387/3s operate Gatwick Express services. Similarly there are many Southern services (especially London Victoria to Eastbourne and Brighton to Eastbourne services) formed of Gatwick Express branded 387/2s but they are still classified as Southern services. It is a mess. No wonder passengers find the railways so confusing.

When I boarded a 377 operated GX service from platform 13/14 at Victoria the other day I was directed through the Southern gateline (i.e Platforms 9-12) so I assume Oyster/contactless would have charged the Southern fare.

 

[AdamWW]

Announcement said something like a Gatwick Express operated by Southern
Driver and OBS (only seen and heard south of Gatwick) was dressed as Southern

I've seen a departure board saying something like Gatwick Express service partially operated by Southern branded stock

(Might have been the other way round but I don't think so)

 

[Class 466]

Last i heard the plan was to diagram them as two seperate entities once they've all transferred but not beforehand.

 

[LudwigTails]

377 144 and 377 407 are currently working a Gatwick Express diagram today. They are on the 21:09 Brighton to London Victoria 22:09 service currently. This really is becoming more and more common.

I was only absent from this page for days and this has happened again?!- i am honestly surprised it has happened again.
As of typing this, it was a couple days after, southern have gotten 4 more ex-GN Class 387s. I be really surprised if it had happened again after this.