SWR's investment in stations reaches £6.5m

Monday, 22 July 2024 17:15

By David Harber

South Western Railway (SWR) has claimed that they have spent over £6.5m in improving 100 railway stations across their network in the past year.

This includes the improvements to Salisbury’s waiting room. The rail operator says, “These aim to provide a warmer welcome for customers, with timber or heritage effect finishes, softer seating and murals relevant to the location.

“Where possible, calming features have also been incorporated into the refurbishments, particularly for the benefit of neurodiverse customers.

“These features include relaxing coloured lighting, acoustic wall treatment to deaden sound and plants”.

SWR Say that 78 stations stretching the South of England have been revamped and restored.

The completed projects are part of SWR’s programme continuous station improvements to enhance the customer experience and attract people to the railway as a greener and easier way to travel.

This Thursday (25th July), SWR will open Southampton Central station’s new interchange, following £5.5 million of investment by SWR, Network Rail and Southampton City Council.

They claim the interchange provides “easier onward travel from Hampshire’s busiest station... and a new and improved design which blends with the station’s Art Deco style”.

Alistair Wright, Head of Infrastructure & Property at South Western Railway, commented, “Every year, we make significant investments to improve and modernise our network to make every journey easy and reliable. Some changes may seem small, but they make a real difference.

“Our stations are the heart of the communities we serve, and the teams can be really proud of the fantastic job that they have done to refresh and improve our spaces, particularly for customers with additional accessibility requirements.”

£5.8 million of enhancements at Salisbury began last month. The improvements include landscaping featuring the planting of trees and shrubs, installation of modern street furniture, and implementation of intuitive wayfinding systems along with more sustainable travel facilities such as a bus interchange.