ONE of Britain’s biggest airports is set to get new overnight trains that’ll provide transport for thousands of passengers a year.
The new service will connect late night arrivals and early morning departures from the airport to stations across the line, meaning more passengers can travel sustainably.
Great Western Railway (GWR) has announced it will be trialling overnight train services between Reading and Gatwick Airport.
Currently, over 20% of Gatwick passengers can’t use rail services from the Thames Valley due to the earliest and latest trains excluding many flight times.
But the trial will enable thousands of passengers to use rail transport on their journey to the airport.
Current services only run between 4:30am and 11:30pm, leaving a big gap for commuters and holidaymakers trying to get to the airport.
GWR said: “We’re very pleased to announce that through partnering with Gatwick Airport, this summer we will trial overnight services between Reading and the airport along the North Downs Line.
“The trial will involve GWR running overnight services on Friday and Sunday nights from 5 June to 11 September 2026.
“Services will run approximately every 2 hours and will call at Reading, Wokingham, Guildford, Dorking Deepdene, Reigate, Redhill and Gatwick Airport.”
The trial means the rail company can measure passenger numbers and work out whether overnight services work operationally and commercially.
If it is successful, the new service hours will mean late night and early morning flight passengers across the network can travel by rail whilst making it easier for shift workers to commute.
