TWO new platforms could be added to Southampton Central railway station.

Network Rail says new platforms on either side of the station are needed to meet the ever-increasing pressure on the station over the next three decades.

The plans are out for consultation today as part of a wider study looking at ways to improve the railway network in the South East.

With more passenger demand on main routes every year, Network Rail say the Wessex Route Plan could help to relieve pressure that sees passengers on services to London Waterloo standing from as far away as Southampton Airport Parkway.

Their blueprint, which sets out potential improvements up to 2043, could see two additional fast services every hour between Southampton Central and London Waterloo.

To allow for extra services, two new platforms could be added at Southampton Central, with platform five – currently not used for passenger services – also coming into use.

The station buildings on either side could be rebuilt to accommodate the new platforms, while an extra line would be built on the southern side of the station to allow freight lines to bypass the station.

A spokesman for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance said the proposals are at a very early stage, and the earliest any work could take place would be between 2019 and 2024.

Options He added: “The purpose of the study is to give a list of options and choices to our funders, including but not limited to the Department for Tran-sport, on how we can improve the network and keep trains running and get the largest number of people a seat as possible over the next 30 years.

“Southampton Central is a pinch point. At peak times people are often standing on services to London from Win-chester or even Southampton Airport Parkway, and one of the ways we can alleviate that is with more trains.

“Putting more platforms in would allow for more trains.”

City council leader Simon Letts said: “Any potential improvement of our railway network has got to be welcomed.

“There has to be investment in our services to allow journey times to London Waterloo to come down.”

Freight services out of the Eastern Docks could also be altered, with longer trains meaning there would be less individual services, freeing up lines at other times of the day.

Work has also started on the next phase of improvements to the area to the north of the station, which will include im-proved public space and road layouts, and could attract new businesses to set up in the area.

Consultation on the draft Wessex Route Plan will end on February 18.

Find out more at networkrail.co.uk/long-term-planning-process/Wessex-route-study.