The Gatwick Express is the only direct non stop service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport. The service began branded as Rapid City Link using converted Class 427 Slam Door Units with added luggage space on existing commuter services. The non stop service began in 1984 with Class 73 Electro Diesels hauling a rake of Mk2 coaches with a converted Class 489 Driver Luggage Van on the other end as a control unit. The Class 460 Junipers were introduced in 2000 to replace the loco hauled stock but teething troubles meant that the old stock continued in service until 2005. In 2008 Southern took over Gatwick Express but retained the sub brand. Southern saved the Gatwick Express from certain doom as it was proposed to be scrapped by the then Strategic Railway Authority. The Junipers have since 2008 been supplimented by the majority of the Class 442 Wessex Electric Units on additional London-Brighton peak services which still run non stop between Gatwick and London. Below is a discription of the journey including sections not included in the video. The journey begins at London Victoria Station, the London terminus of the Brighton Main Line. Southern and Southeastern are the two operators which serve the station. Our train to Gatwick is the 13:00 service which is formed of Class 460 004 (still wearing Fly Emirates advitising) in platform 14. Upon departure our train makes easy work of Grosvenor Bank before passing over the River Thames on the bridge of the same name. The …
Video Rating: 3 / 5
Bright Videos -brighton luggage blog.