Gatwick-bound travellers miss flights because of ‘inadequate’ replacement bus service
Southern Rail has apologised to passengers travelling to Gatwick Airport who missed flights because of severe delays on a replacement bus service on Sunday.
The rail operator had warned earlier in the week it would be running a bus replacement service between Redhill and Gatwick airport while ‘essential maintenance work’ was carried out on Sunday.
But it later admitted it had underestimated demand.
Police were called to try to control the overcrowding as people waited for buses at the station, which is just outside Gatwick.
Many people took to social media to post pictures of huge queues and to criticise the service as ‘inadequate’.
Tweeters included local MP Crispin Blunt, who wrote: "Dangerous shambles on stairs in Redhill Station behind barriers before people get to join this shocking queue of people trying to get to Gatwick Airport.
"Final insult is full Gatwick Express prices being charged by Southern Rail."
Passengers described scenes of ‘chaos’, with people almost ‘trampling one another’ according to one eye witness.
One man, calling himself #mynameisGraeme, tweeted the picture above, saying: "Someone needs firing for this debacle."
One passenger told the Guardian newspaper: "There was no system whatsoever. There were people just trying to get on the train back to Victoria and hundreds of people trying to leave with all their suitcases. It was a mess.
"There were also elderly people and parents with children and babies in the crowd, and it was so cold. Buses were also backing up into the crowd and there were no barriers. It doesn’t seem very safe and that’s what made me angry."
A spokeswoman for Southern said: "We apologise to any passengers delayed at Redhill this afternoon. Demand for the rail replacement service has been greater than expected.
"We will ensure that plans for upcoming weekend engineering works take a higher capacity requirement into consideration.
"We have altered the routes of a number of additional bus services drafted in to help to get passengers on the move, offering a shorter Redhill to Gatwick route."
The rail operator said buses are scheduled to run every five minutes. It advised passengers to allow extra time for their journey.
British Transport Police confirmed four officers were sent to help with the flow of people.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025