Gatwick Coordination Group (GCG) MPs have written to the Rail Minister to warn him that rail services along the Brighton Main Line would go into “complete meltdown” if Gatwick Airport were to be allowed to build a second runway.

As the Government nears a decision on airport expansion following the Airports Commission’s unequivocal recommendation for a new runway at Heathrow Airport last July, MPs have highlighted the inability of the railway to cope with the increased demand that Gatwick expansion would entail.

In their letter to the Rail Minister, Paul Maynard MP, the MPs highlight:

·       “the devastating impact Gatwick expansion would have on the already beleaguered Southern rail service…

·       “Gatwick expansion would result in over 140,000 public transport trips to the airport each day. Given the limited public transport options to Gatwick, the vast majority of these will be via rail. To meet this added demand, TfL estimate that the cost of required upgrades is £10bn. There is, however, no plan to deliver this…

·       “Gatwick have not committed to contribute a single penny towards any cost, leaving commuters and taxpayers to foot any bill for work that would address the chronic lack of capacity that would result from Gatwick expansion…

·       “This summer has exposed once again the poor resilience of the Brighton Main Line and the impact on daily commuters and airport passengers. For many of our constituents, this summer of disruption is only a small sign of things to come should Gatwick be allowed to expand…

·       “An announcement of a second runway at Gatwick would be received with ridicule by the long-suffering Southern Rail commuters. It would pile impossible pressure on Southern Rail…”

Chairman of the GCG, Crispin Blunt commented:

“The Brighton Main Line is already operating over capacity and is one of the busiest and worst performing rail lines in the country. This summer’s misery on the railways highlights the vulnerability of the rail network to severe disruption and the need for new capacity to cope with rising commuter demand.

“The independent Airports Commission recognised the weakness of Gatwick’s surface transport links, in particular the single rail connection. Noticeably, Gatwick Airport has not committed a penny to any rail infrastructure upgrade costs.

“The last thing the Brighton Main Line and its users need is extra burden of an ill-conceived Gatwick expansion. Rail services would go into complete meltdown.”

Full text of the letter below

Dear Paul

Impact of proposed second runway at Gatwick Airport on already deficient rail services

We are writing on behalf of our constituents – regular users of the Brighton Main Line and residents local to Gatwick Airport – to highlight the devastating impact Gatwick expansion would have on the already beleaguered Southern rail service.

As you are well aware, Gatwick is served by only one rail line, the Brighton Main Line, which operates over capacity and which has experienced serious service issues this summer.

At the same time, Gatwick has boasted of its busiest summer on record, arguing this highlights their case for expansion.

According to Transport for London (TfL) estimates, Gatwick expansion would result in over 140,000 public transport trips to the airport each day. Given the limited public transport options to Gatwick, the vast majority of these will be via rail. To meet this added demand, TfL estimate that the cost of required upgrades is £10bn. There is, however, no plan to deliver this.

Gatwick have not committed to contribute a single penny towards any cost, leaving commuters and taxpayers to foot any bill for work that would address the chronic lack of capacity that would result from Gatwick expansion.

Even today, Gatwick will benefit from the recently announced £20m Government bailout to improve services on the Brighton Main Line, and yet have made no offer to contribute to the cost of upgrading one of the countries’ busiest and worst performing rail lines.

We encourage you to seek a financial commitment from Gatwick to help fund improvements for commuters travelling to and through the airport.

The independent Airports Commission recognised the weakness of Gatwick’s single rail connection and the upgrades that would be required should it be allowed to expand. But you don’t need to look any further than our constituency postbags to understand the scale of the issues.

The Commission also highlighted the lack of connectivity for passengers travelling from outside the South East, noting that for most of the country, Gatwick is located on the wrong side of London.

This summer has exposed once again the poor resilience of the Brighton Main Line and the impact on daily commuters and airport passengers. For many of our constituents, this summer of disruption is only a small sign of things to come should Gatwick be allowed to expand.

We urge you, therefore, as Rail Minister to focus efforts on resolving the ongoing issues with Southern rail services for the benefit of our constituents.

An announcement of a second runway at Gatwick would be received with ridicule by the long-suffering Southern Rail commuters. It would pile impossible pressure on Southern Rail and repeat in the future all the difficulties we are “enjoying” now.

Commuters in the South East know it would be the wrong choice, strategically and economically, for them and for the whole of the UK.