Councils Oppose Scrapping of Gatwick Link

London councils have hit out at plans to scrap a direct commuter service between West London and Gatwick Airport.

UK Train operator Southern Railway plans to scrap the Watford to Brighton Service, resulting in service loss between the west of the city and the airport.

The UK Department of Transport says it wants to use trains from the West London line on the Thameslink service, which runs through central London.

The changes follow major engineering works in central London, resulting in the need for trains which can run on two kinds of power supply systems, says Kensington and Chelsea council.

Several London councils have signed a letter urging Transport Secretary of State Ruth Kelly to find an alternative solution to scrapping the line.

By Ahsanul Islam