IT was probably the longest wait for a train in history.

The last passenger train to stop at Chandler's Ford was the 2103 from Portsmouth on May 3, 1969.

But when the 09.09 arrived at the suburban platform a crowd of more than 100 people was there to welcome back the age of the train after a gap of 34 years.

People lined the railway bridge crossing Bournemouth Road to get a good vantage point while the South West Trains locomotive was greeted by cheers and applause by scores of onlookers lining the platform.

Among them were Bob and Rosemarie Donaldson, of Hursley Road, Chandler's Ford, who watched the last passenger steam train go down the line after the Chandler's Ford service fell victim to Beeching's cuts.

Mr Donaldson said: "I used to be a fireman on the railway at Eastleigh on steam trains for nine years, so anything to do with the railway now is a nice thing."

One of the first to board the hourly service from Romsey to Totton was Councillor Godfrey Olson, chairman of Eastleigh Council's local area committee, who was accompanied by local county and borough councillor Colin Davidovitz.

Cllr Olson commented: "We thought we would show support for the venture and we wanted to be in on the ground floor and encourage people to use the station."

Scouts and Cubs from the 15th Chandler's Ford group were among the first passengers, heading for a day out in Romsey.

But if Sunday's launch was all about the public turning out for the occasion, yesterday it was down to the officials as civic dignitaries assembled on the platform to hear Cllr Davidovitz commemorate a "vital link in a new integrated transport service" and ceremonially flag away the 0932.

Work on a new station building for Chandler's Ford should be completed in September.

As well as a staffed ticket office, the development includes a new platform, a 50-space car park, a footbridge, toilets with disabled access and a closed-circuit television system.