Gatwick Express is an express rail passenger service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, and Brighton in South East England. It is the brand name used by the Govia Thameslink Railway train operating company on the Gatwick Express route of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise.
Two Gatwick Express Class 387s at Gatwick Airport in 2018
73213 University of Kent at Canterbury on Gatwick Express duties in 1998
Interior of a Gatwick Express branded Class 387
Exterior of a Class 387 passenger carriage
Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain is the system of contracting the operation of the passenger services on the railways of Great Britain to private companies, which has been in effect since 1996 and was greatly altered in 2020, with rail franchising being effectively abolished in May 2021.
Gatwick Express, the third railway service to be franchised in 1996
Before privatisation: an InterCity train owned and operated by British Rail
After franchising: a GNER operated train on the InterCity East Coast franchise
Temporary public ownership: East Coast was brought in to run the failed InterCity East Coast franchise in 2009