2012-08-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — Gatwick Airport has responded to a Department for Transport consultation about the future combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern rail franchise, which is due to commence in September 2013.
Gatwick Airport’s Head of Surface Access, Julia Gregory said: “High quality rail links are key to attracting airlines and passengers to an airport. Research shows that passengers consider the cost and convenience of rail before deciding which airport to fly from.1 Research also shows that airlines look for high quality rail links and services when deciding which airport to operate out of. 2
“Gatwick is without doubt the best connected London airport by rail but if we are to remain competitive and continue to attract major airlines serving the UKs key trading routes and encourage more people to travel by train then the quality and extent of those services has to improve.
“We have called on Government to specify in the tender document what kind of service a successful bidder would be expected to provide. That must include an obligation for any new operator to return the Gatwick Express to a dedicated, non-stop premium service with new fit-for-purpose carriages and the re-introduction of an on-board ticketing service.”
1 CAA data shows that for 55% of passengers, the cost and convenience of travelling to an airport is a key reason for choosing to fly from it.
2 A report from ARUP, Commissioned by Gatwick, shows how good transport links are one of the top three reasons for an airline choosing to locate at an airport.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Rail connectivity from Gatwick
Rail users in numbers
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About Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries for around 34 million passengers a year on short- and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the South-East region, generating around 23,000 on-airport jobs and a further 13,000 jobs through related activities. The airport is 28 miles south of London with excellent public transport links, including the Gatwick Express. Gatwick Airport is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the largest shareholder.
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