Southern
Southern runs between central London and the south coast through Sussex, Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire, calling at Gatwick Airport.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Official website
- Official website
- Train tickets
- Direct
Southern is one of four separate customer facing brands run by Govia Thameslink Railway, alongside Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.
Network and main stations
Southern covers the area between central London and the south coast, running through East and West Sussex, Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire. The network calls at 156 stations, with London Victoria and London Bridge as the main London terminals.
Getting to Gatwick Airport
Southern runs fast, frequent trains to Gatwick Airport from London and the South East.
Tickets and fares
Southern sells Advance, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak and Anytime fares, plus Season and Flexi-Season tickets for regular travel and a First Class option with a plug socket and a quieter carriage. Advance tickets are booked ahead for a specific train and come with a third off for any Railcard apart from a Network Railcard. Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak fares, valid outside the busiest times, work with any Railcard subject to conditions. DaySave covers unlimited Off-Peak travel in a set area for the day but does not carry Railcard discounts, and Unizone offers university students in select areas a discounted season ticket for set zones that is not combinable with a Railcard. PlusBus tickets extend a Southern fare to cover onward bus travel and accept any Railcard type.
Smart and contactless travel
The Key Smartcard replaces paper tickets for Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Flexi-Season and Season travel, and it is valid across Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern services in London, Greater London, Sussex, Surrey, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Pay as you go works through keyGo, Oyster and contactless cards, with fares calculated automatically and Railcard discounts applied where eligible; Season tickets are the one exception, since Railcard discounts do not apply to them beyond the 16 to 17 Saver.
Railcards, groups and children
A Railcard costs £35 for a year and gives a third off eligible fares. For a group of 3 to 9 adults, GroupSave gives the same third off Off-Peak fares, which covers all day on weekends and Bank Holidays. Up to four children aged 5 to 15 travelling with a fare-paying adult can get a flat £2 fare at Off-Peak times on most journeys. Under 5s travel free with a fare-paying adult, provided they do not need a separate seat.
Flight connections
For a ticket bought to Gatwick Airport on a specific date, the ticket stays valid until 4:29am the following day if a flight is delayed past midnight; beyond that, a new ticket is needed.
Where to book
Train tickets
- Buy direct from Southern
Southern
Frequently asked questions
Where does Southern operate?
Southern runs between central London and the south coast, covering East and West Sussex, Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire, with London Victoria and London Bridge as its main London stations.
Does Southern serve Gatwick Airport?
Yes, Southern runs fast, frequent trains to Gatwick Airport from London and the South East.
How much does a Railcard cost and what does it save?
Most Railcards cost £35 for a year and give a third off eligible fares.
What if my flight is delayed after I have a Southern ticket to Gatwick?
A ticket bought for a specific date stays valid until 4:29am the following day if the flight is delayed past midnight. Beyond that, a new ticket is needed.
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Official website
