Help! My daughter and I will be arriving on Friday 9/1 at 6:30 am at Gatwick. No Gatwick express service that day. Their website says a limited number of Southern trains will travel between Gatwick and Victoria. Per Southerns website, the current schedule has trains running every half hour. Does anyone know if the schedule posted is accurate? If we were to buy tickets, would that help us get a seat? Also, we will be arriving with 3 suitcases, as I am taking my daughter to her year abroad. Would we be better off with a cab? Any advice appreciated.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8149 posts
Yes that schedule is accurate.
While the trains are being run by Southern they say that they will be using Gatwick Express trains (it is the same parent company for both GX and Southern), thus plenty of luggage room.
No there are no reserved seats. So buying ahead of time will do nothing about seats, which are unreserveable, at any time.
The trains are running non stop to Victoria in 30 minutes and are starting from Gatwick on that day, so the train will be boarding for 15 minutes before it departs (from xx.00 to xx.15 and xx.30 to xx.45), so getting seats should not be a problem as there are only flight passengers, not commuters to handle.
A taxi will take at least twice as long. If you take the train the fare for the three of you before 0915 will be £58.20. From 0945 it is £38.40 as a groupsave fare.
Whether you think the taxi is a better proposition in your circumstances is a personal judgement.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34010 posts
A taxi will take at least twice as long
Why? There are no motorways into London from the Gatwick direction. The M23 from the airport ends at the M25. Then it is drudgery all the way heavy traffic and plenty of 20mph sections.
The few trains running on strike days are getting quite reliable. Good luck with getting your kiddo settled in.