Extra trains to operate through Buckland on the North Downs Railway
Great Western Railways has announced a trial overnight service between Reading and the airport along the North Downs Line; designed to improve rail access to the airport from communities along the line itself, the wider Thames Valley, and the rest of the GWR network including the West of England and South Wales.
Currently GWR services are only able to operate from 04:30 to 23:30, which means that over 20% of Gatwick’s customers cannot use rail services from the Thames Valley.
The new services will offer connections to early morning departures and late-night arrivals for flights from major airlines including easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways and will provide vital connectivity not only to airline passengers but also to shift workers along the route.
GWR, working in partnership with Gatwick Airport will use the trial to test demand for extended operating hours to Gatwick and gather real-world data to help GWR understand whether overnight services can work operationally and commercially on this route.
Gatwick Airport has committed to increase the number of passengers travelling to the airport via sustainable means and a wider marketing campaign to promote travelling to Gatwick via rail will support the trial.
During the trial GWR will run additional trains between Reading and Gatwick Airport starting Friday 5th June and ending Friday 11th September as follows:
During the early hours of Friday night/Saturday morning; two additional services from Reading to Gatwick will depart Reading at 02:32 and 03:41, and three additional services from Gatwick to Reading will depart Gatwick at 00:24, 01:24, and 04:00; and
During the early hours of Sunday night/Monday morning; one additional service from Reading to Gatwick will depart Reading at 03:31, and two additional services from Gatwick to Reading will depart Gatwick at 00:25 and 04:00.
Services will call at Reading, Wokingham, Guildford, Dorking Deepdene, Reigate, Redhill and Gatwick Airport.
Network Rail has responded to a query from your Parish Council to confirm that drivers are instructed not to operate whistles between the hours of midnight and 0600, an instruction that reflects a National Agreement.
Last updated 3rd April 2026