Passengers at Gatwick Airport are facing widespread confusion and paying premium prices for slower journeys, after it was revealed that trains branded as the non-stop Gatwick Express are routinely operating as all-stations commuter services.
Platform Confusion Captured on Camera
The issue was recently highlighted by passenger Mike Leidig, who filmed scenes at Gatwick Airport station near Crawley in West Sussex. His footage shows a gleaming red train with 'Gatwick Express' emblazoned in large white letters pulling into the platform. However, the digital display above the doors indicated it was actually a Southern service to London Victoria, making multiple stops.
Leidig reported that the platform was left nearly empty as tourists and commuters piled onto this bright red train, only to discover they had boarded the slower service. He stated that he had specifically asked a platform guard to confirm if it was the fast airport train. "The guard did his best to warn me that this wasn't the Gatwick Express, even though it said Gatwick Express all over the side," Leidig said.
A Costly and Time-Consuming Mistake
The mix-up has significant consequences for travellers. A standard single ticket on the Gatwick Express can cost over £20 one way. In contrast, passengers using contactless or Oyster cards on a Southern train pay substantially less, particularly during off-peak hours.
For this premium fare, the Gatwick Express markets itself as a fast, non-stop service to London Victoria with a journey time of approximately 30 minutes. The Southern stopping service, however, typically takes around 15 minutes longer, calling at stations like East Croydon and Clapham Junction. This means deceived passengers are paying more for a slower, less direct journey.
Operator Blamed for Branding Chaos
Platform staff confirmed to Leidig that the confusion is now a daily occurrence. They attributed the problem to a shortage of Southern's usual green-and-white trains, leading the operator to use the red Gatwick Express rolling stock on ordinary stopping services.
One unnamed attendant said that while staff make extra announcements to warn passengers, management has not changed the trains or the misleading branding. The attendant added that they now routinely advise angry travellers to complain online, as there is little else they can do.
Both Gatwick Express and Southern are run by the same operator, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). Leidig questioned the practice, saying, "If it's all the same company anyway, I don't understand why they're allowed to run Gatwick Express-branded trains as slow stoppers while charging a premium for the so-called non-stop service."
Staff have indicated that this practice is likely to continue until more of the standard Southern trains return to service, leaving passengers to scrutinise digital departure boards closely rather than trusting the prominent train livery.
