The Gatwick Express airport rail link from central London is to resume before Christmas after 21 months out of service during the pandemic.
The return on December 13 on weekdays is designed to “support the recovery of Gatwick airport and the south-east economy”.
The service was suspended on March 30, 2020 as the pandemic took hold and passenger numbers at the airport tumbled.
Passengers at the airport are now returning in greater numbers but Gatwick Express will be affected by engineering work and will not run between Boxing Day and January 3.
Gatwick Express trains will then run to a winter timetable from January 4 with two non-stop services running seven days a week between London Victoria station and the airport and onwards to Brighton.
This was the original plan for services after May 2020, introduced to facilitate the upgrade of Gatwick’s station, which means there are fewer platforms available, according to the train operator.
Govia Thameslink Railway interim chief operating officer Angie Doll said: “We’re pleased to reinstate our seven-day-a-week non-stop Gatwick Express service.
“Gatwick airport plays a vital part in driving economic growth in the south-east and we’re proud to support its recovery.”