Great Western Railway 1O74 Train from Reading to Gatwick Airport

The next and final train ride for me on this UK trip is Great Western Railway 1O74 from Reading to Gatwick Airport on my way back to Singapore. I planned a long transfer time at Reading Railway Station to deal with my luggage so I can afford a very slow walk across platforms, and to ensure that I do not miss my train to to Gatwick Airport.

Reading Railway Station

Trains to London Gatwick Airport depart from Platforms 4, 5, or 6, due to the track layout at Reading for easy termination from the North Downs Line.

My train was departing from Platform 4 in about half an hour’s time.

Meanwhile, there was a South Western Railway train heading to London Waterloo, formed by 2 sets of Class 450 Desiro 4-car sets.

Great Western Railway 1O74

At 2.49pm, the incoming GWR Class 165/1 Networker Turbo from Gatwick Airport was arriving 2 minutes early, which will form my Great Western Railway 1O74 train from Reading to Gatwick Airport.

My Great Western Railway 1O74 train at Reading Railway Station.

The interior of the GWR Class 165/1 Networker Turbo in a 3+2 seat configuration.

Quite annoyingly, no luggage racks are provided on the unrefurbished GWR Class 165/1 Networker Turbo. There were many passengers with luggage on this train to London Gatwick Airport, and passengers including myself resorted to having store bags at and on seats.

Thankfully, the train was not full, so I had a bay of 6 seats to myself.

3-pin and USB power sockets are available on the bulkhead by the window seats.

My Great Western Railway 1O74 train departed from Reading Railway Station on time at 3.01pm.

The Gatwick Airport train on the North Downs Line has a faster stopping pattern than the Redhill trains, so some stations are skipped.

Heading right to the North Downs Line.

An accessible toilet is available on board the GWR Class 165/1 Networker Turbo.

Wokingham Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Wokingham Railway Station.

Blackwater Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Blackwater Railway Station.

North Camp Railway Station

Making a brief stop at North Camp Railway Station.

Approaching Guildford Railway Station.

Guildford Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Guildford Railway Station.

Dorking Deepdene Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Dorking Deepdene Railway Station.

Crossing London Road at Reigate.

Reigate Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Reigate Railway Station.

Taking the curve into Redhill.

Merging with the Brighton Main Line.

Redhill Railway Station

Arriving at Redhill Railway Station.

A 5-minute stop is scheduled at Redhill Railway Station, which my train arrived 2 minutes early. A direction change is done here for the journey to continue on to Gatwick Airport.

A Thameslink train arriving at Redhill heading through London.

Departing from Redhill Railway Station.

Heading onto the Brighton Main Line.

Being overtaken by a Southern train service.

Passing through Earlswood Railway Station at speed.

Passing through Salfords Railway Station at speed.

Passing through Horley Railway Station at speed.

Getting ready to disembark at Gatwick Airport.

Arriving at Gatwick Airport Railway Station.

Gatwick Airport Railway Station

My Great Western Railway 1O74 train arrived at Gatwick Airport Railway Station at 4.26pm – 1 minute delayed.

It was quite a rush at Gatwick Airport Railway Station as there was only 3 minutes before the train had to head back, so exiting passengers with luggage had to deal with entering passengers also with luggage crowding around the train doors.

Surprisingly, despite the hustle, the train departed on time at 4.29pm back to Reading.

The suddenly silent platforms.

Gatwick Airport Railway Station is directly connected to Gatwick Airport South Terminal, leading me directly to check in for my Scoot TR753 flight back to Singapore.

Conclusion

It was a good ride on the Great Western Railway 1O74 train on the North Downs Line via Guildford, offering me the last views of suburban London before I leave the UK. The “Not valid for travel via London Terminals” condition also awarded me a cheaper fare from Oxford, at almost 1/3 off the bus price. The unrefurbished Class 165/1 Networker Turbo may not be suited for this airport train though, with little to no luggage storage space.