Bussing it across Gatwick Runway
By jazzsue58
@jazzsue58 (2666)
March 23, 2011 9:25am CST
If you want to drive from my home in Horley to Lowfield Heath, at nearby Gatwick, you use the A23. Simples.
But if you want the white knuckle version, you take the 100 "Fastway" bus. Aptly named. For less than £5 return you don't need to bother with roads at all once you reach Getwick rail station. Oh no. You veer off through the concourse (doing a levitating Dalek impression up the stairs on the way and head straight across the tarmac of the runway. Whatever's landing or taking off.
Well, that's what it looks like according to Google maps anyway. Maybe there's a road or two missing in there somewhere? I know the service is called Fasttrack, but it's not that damned fast. Here's the link:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=lowfield+heath&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:{referrer:source%3F}&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7GGIE_en&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl 
I haven't even bothered downloading the walkers' version. I'd imagine the Mole river's in there somewhere - that flows under the airport.
I haven't even bothered downloading the walkers' version. I'd imagine the Mole river's in there somewhere - that flows under the airport.1 response
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
23 Mar 11
Did you ride the bus? I had to check out the details, since what you say sounds most unlikely to me!
I found that, in fact, the Route 100 is a little more prosaic than you describe and uses the Perimeter Way (A23) just as you would in a car. Also, although a lot of the Fastway services use guided busways, there have been problems with the construction of these dedicated tracks and the 100 (and the 10) don't use them at all!
http://www.metrobus.co.uk/fastway/img/fwinfmap.pdf (Note: THIS IS A PDF FILE!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawley_Fastway
Nice try, Sue! It's not quite April 1st yet, though!
We in Cambridge are also eagerly awaiting the opening of our new busway - all the way from the South fringe of the City at Trumpington via the Hospital and the Station and thence north to St Ives. It, too, hit contractor problems (I wonder if it was the same company) but is now nearly ready. Up till now it has just been a rather expensive cycle track north of the city!
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
23 Mar 11
Maybe, if you did take the "White-knuckle Ride", the driver got lost and thought "Am I a bus? Am I a plane?" and the Control Tower just muttered amongst themselves and said "Just wait till he looks for a way out to Horley!" ... or simply opened the emergency gates.
