Gatwick Airport station: inability to cope

[TimG]

Nightmare at gatwick, with trains being cancelled and people being dunped from their trains. So today is one off.... But i reckon this will become a major interchange once thameslink is complete. It wont cope.

 

[GatwickDepress]

From the sounds of it, high winds are behind the problem. some trains, starting from East Croydon, or else running extremely delayed, numerous GatEx cancellations...

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/119500.aspx
High winds are affecting parts of south England, causing disruption to journeys on various routes.

From 11:00 today speed restrictions have been imposed on various routes. Coastal services are expected to be the most affected.

Three Bridges and Brighton
Following a tree on the line near Haywards Heath, all lines are now open however, there may still be delays of up to 30 minutes between Haywards Heath and Brighton. This is expected to continue until 18:00.
There will be a reduced service in place for this evenings peak.
Services throughout the south of England are subject to delays, short notice alterations and cancellations.

Gatwick Express will be running a reduced service.

Virginia Water and Ascot
A tree is blocking the line between Virginia Water and Ascot, engineers are en-route to remove the tree. Buses are running between these stations. Disruption is expected until 18:00.

 

[HowardGWR]

Trees on the line (see also Cornwall today) must surely lead to Ian Walmsley's (Modern Railways) recommendation, to send out out teams of chain saw operators, being followed.

 

[Stow]

Good job it is going to be redeveloped;

http://www.mediacentre.gatwickairpo...ormation-of-gatwick-rail-station-secured.aspx

 

[fowler9]

Takes me back to October 87 when I went to the Ripple Lane open day and then had my first ride on the Gatwick Express.

 

[Deepgreen]

Takes me back to October 87 when I went to the Ripple Lane open day and then had my first ride on the Gatwick Express.

Ironically also the month of the famous storm in Southern Britain (16/17th).

 

[Groningen]

This storm maybe with 1 Micheal Fish from the reliable BBC on October 15th, 1987.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnxjZ-aFkjs

 

[fowler9]

Yeah, I think the storm was on the 15th, we headed down to London the next day, then to Ripple Lane, then the ride on the Gatwick Express which understandably crawled all he way to Gatwick. Hauled back to Liverpool by an 85 if I remember correctly, that may have been another trip, would have to check.

 

[Deepgreen]

Yeah, I think the storm was on the 15th, we headed down to London the next day, then to Ripple Lane, then the ride on the Gatwick Express which understandably crawled all he way to Gatwick. Hauled back to Liverpool by an 85 if I remember correctly, that may have been another trip, would have to check.

The storm hit Southern England in the small hours of the 16th, and the highest recorded gust of 100 knots was at Shoreham, Sussex at 0310. Gatwick Airport was closed soon after 0430. The aftermath was most disruptive on the 16th and 17th as the clear up got underway.

 

[zoneking]

The main problem at Gatwick is that it does not cater for agile passengers, unencumbered with luggage, who just need to use it to change trains quickly. The escalators can be slow, the exits, entrances and overbridges to platforms confusing - not all exits lead to all platforms for a swift changeover.

 

[TimG]

The main problem at Gatwick is that it does not cater for agile passengers, unencumbered with luggage, who just need to use it to change trains quickly. The escalators can be slow, the exits, entrances and overbridges to platforms confusing - not all exits lead to all platforms for a swift changeover.

It is pants. Changing to platform 7 (ironically one of the busier platforms) os a joke.

 

[fowler9]

The storm hit Southern England in the small hours of the 16th, and the highest recorded gust of 100 knots was at Shoreham, Sussex at 0310. Gatwick Airport was closed soon after 0430. The aftermath was most disruptive on the 16th and 17th as the clear up got underway.

Sorry mate. You are correct. Was thinking of the weather in Liverpool on 15th and 16th.