DIRECT trains to Gatwick Airport could be axed under new plans by Southern Rail. 

Direct routes from Southampton Central to London's second-biggest airport run once an hour Monday to Saturday, according to rail schedules.

But under new proposals by Southern Rail, the two-per-hour London Victoria via Horsham and Gatwick Airport trains would serve Portsmouth only. 

The two-per-hour Brighton trains would only serve Southampton meaning that those who want to travel to Gatwick will have to change. 

The operator says the change "would mean more even intervals between trains at new half-hourly frequencies and would improve reliability on both routes by removing the short turn-round times". 

"Passengers between Southampton and Gatwick Airport would have a short, convenient, same-platform connection at Barnham."

It also says this will mean quicker journey times on the Southampton to Brighton route with an extra stop at Woolston. 

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Jenny Saunders, Govia Thameslink Railway’s Customer Service Director, said: “We’re confident that the reliability and capacity improvements these proposals are designed to achieve would benefit passengers on local and longer-distance journeys across the West Coastway.

“It’s now important that we hear the views of the public so we can make sure these proposals improve services for our passengers.”

A consultation on the plans is underway and can be found on Southern Railway's website. 

If introduced, the changes would come into effect from next year with a redesigned timetable.

Other changes include London to Portsmouth services being extended to Portsmouth Harbour and a new, half-hourly, all-stations Brighton to Chichester service via Littlehampton.

Southern Rail says the plans build on its redesign of the East Coastway timetable.

It adds: "The aims are to improve reliability on all routes and to increase capacity where passenger demand is greatest, with more evenly spaced departure times for passengers."