Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 24 September (HL10300), when did the discussions about enhancing Gatwick Airport railway station begin.

It is not possible to give a precise date when discussions first began about enhancing Gatwick Airport rail station. The rail industry and the Department have been aware for many years about the problems caused for passenger with heavy luggage by the limited number of lifts and escalators at the station.

The current proposals to improve the station by, among others, adding more lifts and escalators, was given impetus by the interim recommendation of the Airports Commission which was subsequently accepted by the Government.