Get to Gatwick quickly... but not cheaply (Gatwick Express)

Member Name: stuff10

Product:	Gatwick Express
Date:	23/06/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Train is direct, so no stopping, fares same price on board

Disadvantages: Expensive for a half hour trip

We used the Gatwick Express when traveling to Gatwick Airport (funnily enough) for our Honeymoon. As it was a special occasion, we decided to treat ourselves and paid for 1st class which was £24.50 each for a 30 minute train ride! Pretty expensive!! Standard class is cheaper at £16.90 each, but this is still a lot for only half an hour's trip!

Trains run every 15 minutes from Victoria to Gatwick and arrive at the South Terminal, which is just a 2 minute monorail ride away from the North Terminal.

The train itself was very clean although the carriage did seem quite old with frayed and marked seats. Every seat in 1st class has a table with it, although we did think there was a lack of luggage space which could be a problem when the train is full (ours was empty).

You can book your tickets in advance though the Gatwick Express website (www.gatwickexpress.com), or you can pay on the train for no extra cost.

The train journey itself is seemingly quite quick, but not that much faster than other National Rail services although the Express train doesn't stop anywhere else on the way.

We used the Express cos we didn't want the hassle of having to keep an eye on our luggage at all the stops and (God-forbid) if we ever have to go from Gatwick again, we'll probably use the Express then too!

Summary: Good, but could be cheaper going on National Rail