Today the Gatwick Express celebrates 40 years of service having opened to the public on 14 May 1984.
Carrying more than 30 million customers every year, the iconic red trains have been helping people jet off from London and the South East for four decades, providing a quick, direct, and sustainable route to Gatwick Airport, which last year saw the completion of a £249m upgrade of its train station.
For many, travelling on the Gatwick Express signifies the start of holiday; and with Gatwick Airport being the most used train station in the South East¹, there will be plenty of people who want to commemorate this milestone.
To mark 40 years of service and celebrate the Gatwick Express uniform, 40 limited-edition waistcoats have been created and are being given away for FREE. Adorned with the vibrant red chequered pattern of the Gatwick Express, the waistcoats are perfectly in-keeping with the brand’s ruby red anniversary and are a perfect piece of railway memorabilia. All fans need to do for a chance of bagging their own piece of Gatwick Express merchandise is head to the brand’s Instagram page to enter the competition*.
Sophie Hill, Head of Gatwick Express, said: “My team and I recognise that for some of our customers, getting the Gatwick Express can be the start of a journey where they create lifetime memories on holiday, so the experience of travelling with us holds more of an emotional connection than simply travelling from A to B. We wanted to celebrate our 40th anniversary by offering something unique and collectable for our customers and followers. We have lots of Gatwick Express superfans out there, who will be hoping to get their hands on their very own waistcoat so be quick if you want to be in with a chance of winning!”
Hannah Godfrey, Senior Surface Access Manager, London Gatwick said: “Gatwick Express plays a vital part in London Gatwick’s fantastic connectivity, with passengers able to travel into central London from the South Terminal in just 30 minutes non-stop. The service means many passengers can go from their plane to the heart of the capital in as little as an hour, and be on the doorstep of iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Hyde Park. We are delighted Gatwick Express continues to offer such a brilliant service after 40 years and we look forward to continuing to work with the Gatwick Express team to enhance the service for the future.”
