£50 million towards the cost of full redevelopment of the railway station, subject to agreeing
satisfactory contributions from Gatwick Airport
•• accelerating the Network Rail study into improvements to the Brighton Mainline
•• a pilot of smart ticketing on Gatwick to London rail links, subject to ongoing commercial
negotiations
More electical fires reported on Gatwick Express class 442 units involving their traction equipment. Last three, reported elsewhere, to have occured on 28th November, 3nd December and today. The latter being on a unit on an empty coaching stock move. These units, introduced in 1988 are simply clapped out and not fit for purpose. They give visitors to the Uk a bad first impression. They are far inferior and less accessable, certainly for the infirm and more aged, to the 2000 lntroduced, purpose built, class 460 units for Gatwick Express, that Network Rail in their wisdom allowed Southern, the now franchise owner of Gatwick Express, to replace them with between 2010 and 2012.
Any negotiations have to start with providing modern suitable trains.That is where to start.