PLANS to improve walking and cycling access between railway stations are set to begin.

It comes after South Western Railway (SWR) announced the winners of its community improvement fund worth over £5 million, going towards almost 70 schemes.

It involves schemes to improve walking and cycling access to and from stations, and projects to address social isolation.

Designed to help boost the local economy, SWR invited bids from its Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) and now the successful projects from across the South Western Railway network have been revealed.

Local authorities have also matched the CCIF funding, with contributions from housing developments to provide new walking and cycling routes and improved transport interchange at nearly a dozen stations.

CCIF funding will also support projects mentoring young women and people living in disadvantaged communities.

This goes alongside several projects aiming to reduce social isolation amongst the elderly with virtual train trips to build up confidence in using public transport.

In total 67 schemes successfully won funding, and with match funding a requirement of applying for the SWR Customer and Communities Improvement Fund, over £5 million is now set to benefit local community projects.

SWR Commercial and Business Development Director Peter Williams said: “We at SWR recognise only too well the vital role that rail plays in the local as well as the national economy, and I am delighted that we have been able to further support the communities we serve through this funding."