Gatwick Express: Yes Please!! (Gatwick Express)

Member Name: bendoyle1983

Product:	Gatwick Express
Date:	10/06/06 (113 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quick, Frequent, Non-stop, Helpful staff

Disadvantages: None I can think of!

I have used Gatwick Express on 4 occasions recently. On each occasion I have had a smooth and trouble-free journey. It has been quick, and there is ALWAYS a train waiting for me when I come down those escalators!

You can buy a ticket in advance, or on the train. It is no more expensive to buy it on the train, so why bother to queue? I believe that Southern's ticket is cheaper, but the Gatwick Express makes up for this in ease-of-use and frequency.

On ticket pricing, Gatwick Express costs £25 return for Full Adult, £16.50 for Railcards (Young Persons, Seniors etc.). Whilst this is pricey, I think it is worth it for the speed, comfort, reliability and frequency of the service.

However, I usually travel up to Manchester, as it's where I live. The gem of this service is that if you are travelling from Manchester, Macclesfield or Stoke-on-Trent (not sure about other stations), the fare added ontop of your Virgin fare less than the Gatwick Express Fare (at the cheapest £6 Adults, £5.30 Railcard). So basically, you can go from Manchester to Gatwick and back (at the cheapest) for £33 Adult or £21.80 for Young Persons.

I think that it's fantastic that this service can be used in conjunction with Virgin West Coast, and as a YP Railcard holder, I've never had to pay more than £21.80 for my return. Go on thetrainline.com and check it out! You'll definately be better off booking it all in advance.

The train comes into Victoria station, and offers excellent connections with Southern and South-Eastern's services, as well as Underground links, Victoria Coach Station and a London Transport bus station outside.

It is the easiest and most convenient way to get into London, and in my opinion, the best of the three airport expresses (Gatiwick Express, Heathrow Express and Stansted Express). The through-ticketing is my gold star for this service, as other airport expresses do not allow this. The staff are friendly, and upon arrival at Victoria, there are Platform Assistnats with trollies to help those with hefty or lots of luggage.

Only those travelling to/from Gatwick are on this train, where as with Southern or First Capital Connect, you might be jostling with space with some commuters!

Summary: A quick, frequent, service with cheap through-ticketing! My favourite of the Airport expresses!