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An airport watchdog fears passengers will be forced off trains and on to the roads in a shake-up of rail services.

The Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee (Gatcom) is also concerned the airport will not be able to cope with the huge number of extra passengers expected for the London Olympics unless Gatwick's railway station has a £30 million makeover.

The committee has drawn up a dossier warning the Department for Transport about its concerns and demanding extra cash for the station renovation.

It is particularly concerned by Southern's plans to extend the Gatwick Express service from December.

Currently the service runs between Gatwick and London Victoria but new plans would see it carry on through to Brighton. A draft response by the committee says: "We remain sceptical about the decision to extend the service to the South Coast during peak hours, resulting inevitably in a far less satisfactory service to airport passengers using the railway.

"There is concern that during the morning peak trains will arrive at Gatwick from Brighton already full, with little seating and luggage space for airport passengers."

The franchise covering the service is up for renewal from September 2009 and the Department for Transport has invited comments.

Members have also been upset by the Office of Rail Regulators (ORR) decision not to back a £30 million scheme which would transform the station in time for the Olympics.

Proposals to build another platform for the Gatwick Express, as well as refurbish the station to bring in coach services and transform it into an integrated transport hub, were recently announced by Network Rail.

However, the ORR has earmarked only £9 million for the redevelopment. Gatcom wants to know why.

Andrew Conroy, of Gatwick Express, said: "We have a timetable for the December Brighton service and other details will be finalised soon. When this has happened we will be able to share information."

5:24pm Thursday 24th July 2008

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