South Western Railway upgrading waiting rooms across its network

Credit: SWR

South Western Railway (SWR) passengers will soon benefit from a series of improvements at 10 stations across its network, as part of the company’s commitment to delivering a modern and enhanced customer experience.

Waiting rooms at Basingstoke, Brockenhurst, Brookwood, Byfleet & New Haw, Earley, Farnham, Horsley, Southampton Central, Sunningdale and Totton stations will see more than £400,000 invested to provide customers with better places to relax and work while they wait for their trains.

Over the coming months, SWR will add new features including modern workstations with plug and USB sockets and wireless phone chargers. Customers will be able to work remotely more easily and be more productive while on the move, as SWR responds to changing working patterns since the pandemic, with more people working remotely.  The waiting rooms’ appearances will be refreshed with new decorations on walls and ceilings, along with new flooring, while new seating and improved heating will make them more comfortable.

In line with its industry-leading sustainability strategy to be better for its people, places, and the planet, stations will be made greener and more accessible, with new environmentally friendly LED lighting where not already installed, more priority seating space and lower-level workstations for customers who use wheelchairs.

As important assets for the local communities that they serve, SWR will also add new noticeboards in some of the waiting rooms for local people to use, creating an additional shared resource for station community organisations, such as Community Rail Partnerships and station adoption groups.  

“SWR is committed to providing a modern, sustainable and accessible railway for all our customers, helping them to make the most of their time, wherever they are on our network,” Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director for South Western Railway, said. “That’s why we are delighted to be making these significant investments as part of our ongoing effort to enhance the customer experience at our stations.”

These waiting room upgrades are one aspect of a wider programme of improvements to stations across the SWR network, which will enhance the customer experience and provide a more modern and accessible railway for all customers.