Communities and business leaders have hit out against plans to introduce an additional stop at Clapham Junction on the non-stop Gatwick Express service during peak hours.

 

Gatwick Express is the non-stop rail-air service between London Victoria station and Gatwick Airport and departs every 15 minutes with a journey time of 30 minutes.

To fight against the plans to introduce an extra stop, the Gatwick Diamond Initiative (GDI) has joined forces with other business organisations - including the Crawley & Gatwick Chamber of Commerce, the Horsham Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Gatwick Hoteliers Association.

The group of business leaders and local policy makers have co-signed letters to the Secretary of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers, as well as Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation to bring their attention to the impact this decision may have on the local economy.

The GDI was set up to help make Gatwick a successful airport-focused community and to transform it into a flourishing economy.

It represents the Gatwick Diamond business community which is centred around the airport and which represents an important economic sub region in the south east of England.

However there has been growing concern by business leaders that alterations to the Gatwick Express service are beginning to undermine the area's attractiveness to industry and airline passengers.

Rosemary French, executive director of the Gatwick Diamond Initiative, said: "This would be the latest in a series of body blows alongside the introduction of inadequate rolling stock and new station gates that collectively are degrading the Gatwick Express.

"Gatwick Airport needs a dedicated 30 minute express train service to and from the heart of London."

Jeremy Taylor, CEO of Cadia and who represents businesses with over 50,000 employees in the Gatwick Diamond, added: "This recommendation, if implemented, will have a significant impact on our members businesses at a time when trading conditions are already tough. It seems that no-one is listening to the business community."