ANYONE who travels by train from Southampton or passes through the city by rail will know it can be a pinch-point for commuters.

The current network was never designed to accommodate the sheer numbers of commuters and leisure travellers and those figures will only increase in the years ahead.

Unless steps are taken to increase the number of trains using the south coast route that passes through the city, the commuter crush will never improve.

Today this paper reveals such measures are being considered with the announcement of a consultation on plans to add two more platforms to Southampton Central Station.

This is good news, but it does not mean such proposals will inevitably come to fruition.

Funding will be needed to carry out the work. Adding new platforms would be major work and undoubtedly cause upheaval. But it is to be hoped the plans meet the green light.

If we are to grow as a region and avoid congestion on our road and rail systems then letting the train take the strain is still the most sensible option.