Passengers left stranded at Gatwick Airport after rail strikes
Passengers who touched down at Gatwick Airport on Tuesday were left stranded in the aftermath of rail strikes and reported waiting for hours for hire cars and coaches.
No trains were available at the airport on Tuesday morning, despite strike action by the RMT Union ending at 6am.
There are no trains between the airport and London Victoria until next Tuesday, with passengers having been told to get trains to London Bridge instead.
However, the first Thameslink service did not run until 12.43, and the first Southern Rail service on Tuesday was not until 13.33.
Betty Valentine, an author, posted photos of a long queue and wrote on Twitter: “The queue for the first train out of Gatwick stretches across the airport – if someone isn’t careful people are going to get seriously hurt in the crush when the barrier goes down.”
Another passenger reported waiting hours for an Avis rental car. Jeff, from Orlando, Florida wrote on social media that there was “complete meltdown” trying to get out of Gatwick.
“Never had an issue with Avis but this is getting ridiculous,” he added. “Three hours waiting and they have no answers, let alone cars.”
A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said: “Passengers have experienced long queues in the Gatwick South Terminal as they have waited to access the railway station following strike action by some rail staff.
“The station is now open and trains are starting to run. Passengers should check the latest travel advice – including on rail strikes – before travel.”
It came after passengers described chaotic scenes on Boxing Day when industrial action caused the airport’s train service to be suspended entirely.
Jordan Kelly-Linden, a student at University of the Arts London, wrote on Twitter that there were “feral scenes in the Gatwick National Express queue”.
The UK is contending with the third national rail strike this month in a row between the RMT and the Government over working conditions, cuts to staff and pay. Disruption is expected to last for days, with a fresh round scheduled to follow from January 3.
Airports are also facing strikes by Border Force staff, which are due to resume on Wednesday until about 7am on New Year’s Eve. Airports affected include Birmingham, Cardiff, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Manchester and Port of Newhaven.
Avis and National Express have been approached for comment.
