Gatwick Express Rolling Stock

1979-84 Class 427

Standard Class 423 ‘4-VEP’ units 7788-99 were altered as Class 427 ‘ VEG’, providing more luggage space, and renumbered 7901-12. When replacement stock arrived, they were converted back to standard configuration with their old numbers.

1984-2004 Class 73 and push-pull coaches

Thirteen Class 73 electro-diesels were dedicated to Gatwick Express services and renumbered 73201-212/235, and all but one survive (73203).

The furthest travelled is undoubtedly the former 73207 County of East Sussex, which became a yard shunter at Whitemoor Yard (March). It was rebuilt by Brush in 2016 with a more powerful 1600p diesel engine as 73971, and is operated by Caledonian Sleeper, and so is a regular visitor to Aberdeen and Inverness.

Twenty-one sets of Mk 2F TSO and FO coaches were assembled into three-car sets (Class 488/3 - 488301-319) and two-cars (488201-210), with ten driving luggage vans converted from Class 414/3 2-HAP EMU (Class 489 - 489101-110).

Some vehicles have been scrapped, with others finding new roles in Network Rail maintenance trains and preservation. Others were exported to Northern Ireland and New Zealand.

2001-12 Class 460 460001- 008

The ill-fated eight-car Class 460s, known as ‘Darth Vaders’ because of their distinctive front cowlings, were rebuilt at Wabtec Doncaster and Brush Loughborough as 36 five-car Class 458/ 5s for South Western Railway, incorporating Class 458/ 0s (458001-030) to form five car-sets. Four surplus driving cars were scrapped.

2008-17 Class 442

442401-420 Originally built for WaterlooBournemouth-Weymouth services, the five-car Class 442s were transferred to London-Brighton (including Gatwick) services. They went into store from 2017 with some intended for withdrawal, but 18 sets are earmarked for South Western Railway (TransPennine Express had turned them down).

2016-current Class 387 387201-227

Four-car brand new Bombardier units used in multiple. All are in daily service.