Why was Platform 7 built at Gatwick Airport station?

[swt class 450]

Up until a few years ago (i think around the early or mid 2010s) Gatwick Airport only had six platforms. They then for some reason decided to build a seventh platform.

However up until the seventh platform was built it seems that Platform 6 was extremely rarely used. I have very regularly used Gatwick Airport and changed trains there for many years (and at all times of the day) and not once did i see Platform 6 in use. Other people have said the same. It was a fully working through platform (trains were allowed to use it) but it seems it only got used very occasionally. No trains seemed to ever call at Platform 6 or even pass through it.

So my question is why did they spend all the money building Platform 7 when they already had Platform 6 which was hardly ever used? Surely they just had to use Platform 6 more and then Platform 7 wouldn't have been necessary?

I have been wondering about this for ages! It really makes no sense! Does anybody know the reasons behind this? Any information would be interesting to know?

Many thanks.

 

[swt_passenger]

It allowed the Gatwick Express terminating services to run into platforms situated between the up and down fast lines. This removed all the crossing conflicts which they used to cause when terminating on the slow line side of the station. It also provided more capacity for GWR Gatwick services to terminate and reverse on the slows.

But of course many (most?) GatEx services are now extended through to/from Brighton in peak periods, so there are less services reversing at Gatwick at peak times anyway.

 

[mic505]

GatEx services were extended to Brighton in peak periods since December 2008. Half the the GatEx services also continue to Brighton off-peak as well. Platform 7 opened in 2014.

 

[swt_passenger]

GatEx services were extended to Brighton in peak periods since December 2008. Half the the GatEx services also continue to Brighton off-peak as well. Platform 7 opened in 2014.

Yes, I was trying to suggest that the flexibility introduced by P7 might not be immediately obvious if someone only ever visited during the peak periods.

 

[cle]

Given that once upon a time, it was supposed to be a full island (and in the most part, the space is there) - the escalator placement is a little nuts on P7... if they wanted to open the other side as a P8.

 

[Ianno87]

Platform 6 is hideously slow to enter leave, being an approach control from red on the way in.

Original idea was for 5/6 to act as a centre turnback for GatEx, but now 5 and 7 act as alternate platforms for Down Brighton services. The passenger ciculation is much better on 7. The narrow platform 5 and poor sightlines make dispatch difficult and don't help dwell times.

 

[Minstral25]

Platform 6 is hideously slow to enter leave, being an approach control from red on the way in.

Original idea was for 5/6 to act as a centre turnback for GatEx, but now 5 and 7 act as alternate platforms for Down Brighton services. The passenger circulation is much better on 7. The narrow platform 5 and poor sightlines make dispatch difficult and don't help dwell times.

Platform 7 is only accessible from one of the footbridges and hence really awkward to change to, especially as the signage tends to be very poor generally at Gatwick for interchange passengers.

 

[387star]

The 5/6 island is Gatwick express dedicated with the Gatwick express lounge positioned above although the expresses operate through any platform

The station has recently had airport style signage installed although there is a sign on platform one someone has forgotton to replace and the old signage is visible through the lit up running in boards at night