AS many as 500 construction jobs could be on their way to Hampshire as part of what is being called the “biggest rail expansion since Brunel”.

About £150m is being pumped into the county’s rail services to stimulate business and improve passenger services.

The major project will develop and upgrade the tunnel and rail facilities at the Port of Southampton to get more freight on to the tracks.

Network Rail bosses say this will help the port attract a surge of new business and reduce traffic on city roads.

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The bulk of the investment – about £71m – will be spent on upgrading Southampton tunnel at the port and improving the Southampton to Nuneaton freight route.

At the moment railways in South-ampton cannot accommodate large modern containers, but after the work is carried out a boom is expected.

A further £55m will be used to build a diversion link between Southampton docks through Romsey and on to Basingstoke. Many Hampshire stations will also be getting a multi-million-pound facelift.

Richard O’Brien, Wessex route director, said: “It is very early days, so we can’t say exactly how many jobs would be created by the works down here. It would certainly be hundreds, which would peak at around 500.

“The whole area would benefit, as it would make the port more attractive to businesses and get more vehicles off the road, although at the moment we cannot say how many.”

Sally Lynskey, Business Southamp-ton boss, said: “This will be good for the economy, good for the environment and good for the city. It will keep it moving.”

The £36 billion national programme will also be used to improve Hampshire routes into London, with plans to extend platforms to accommodate longer trains.

There will also be new routes to get customers to the airports more easily.

The work is expected to take five years and be paid for by the Government, Network Rail, Seeda and Associated British Ports.

About £2.5m will be spent on renovation work at Southampton Central Station, while developments are also planned at Eastleigh and Winchester.

However, the Daily Echo understands it will include improvements to the building, lighting, waiting facilities, signage and security.

This is in addition to £12.5m plans to build a footbridge and multi-storey car park which is currently under way.

This work will be part of the Department for Transport-backed National Stations Improvement Programme.