More carriages for overcrowded trains (From Daily Echo)

South West Trains to put on more seats for peak time trains

8:10am Friday 11th May 2012 in News

THERE is light at the end of the tunnel for Hampshire commuters following moves to add extra carriages to packed out London-bound trains.

The Government has announced 48 carriages and 2,400 extra seats on trains across the South West Trains region during the morning and evening peaks – from March 2014.

Included in this is a longer main line morning peak service to Waterloo on the route that takes in Fareham, Botley, Hedge End, Eastleigh and Winchester – with an additional four carriages.

It is part of the second phase of a “capacity enhancement programme”

that will see the introduction of a total of 108 additional carriages on the network between May 2013 and December 2014 South West Trains is currently investing over £100m in better station facilities and more car parking spaces.

Winchester MP Steve Brine said: “I am pleased the Government has acted but will try and speed things along as 2014 is simply not fast enough.”