South Western Railway(SWR;legal nameFirst MTR South Western Trains Limited,[3]) is a Britishtrain operating companyowned byFirstGroup(70%) andMTR Corporation(30%) that operates theSouth Western franchise.
 | |
 A South Western RailwayClass 444nearSouthampton Airport Parkwayin 2021 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Franchise(s) | South Western 20 August 2017 – 25 May 2025 |
| Main region(s) | |
| Fleet | |
| Parent company |
|
| Reporting mark | SW[1] |
| Predecessor | South West Trains |
| Other | |
| Website | www |
On 20 August 2017, SWR took over South Western franchise operations from the previous franchiseeSouth West Trains.SWR operates commuter services from itsCentral Londonterminus atLondon Waterlooto south west London. SWR provides suburban services in the counties ofSurrey,Hampshire,BerkshireandDorset,as well as regional services inDevon,SomersetandWiltshire.Its subsidiaryIsland Lineoperates services on theIsle of Wight.Rolling stock changes have included a comprehensive refurbishment of existing units and the acquisition of new-buildClass 701units fromBombardierto replace SWR'sClass 455,andClass 707multiple units. TheClass 483fleet operated on the Island Line was also replaced by theClass 484during 2021.
During April 2018, amid concerns of SWR's performance, the Transport Secretary,Chris Grayling,announced an independent review into SWR andNetwork Rail.Between 2 December 2019 and 2 January 2020, theNational Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers(RMT) undertook 27days of strikes. Furtherindustrial actionby SWR's staff was undertaken in 2022. In response to the decrease in passenger travel caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic,SWR had considerably curtailed its services by mid-2020. In January 2020, SWR announced that they were in discussions with the government regarding the future of the franchise. In December 2020, it was announced that SWR's franchise would be abolished and replaced by a shorter management contract. In February 2023, the contract was extended to May 2025. In December 2024, the government announced that SWR's contract would not be renewed in 2025 and that the service would berenationalised.
History
editDuring July 2015, theDepartment for Transport(DfT) abandoned efforts to negotiate an extension with the incumbent operator of the South Western franchise,South West Trains,(owned by British transport conglomerateStagecoach) and announced that the South Western franchise would be re-tendered for in the coming years.[4][5][6]This outcome was viewed by several industry commentators as being unexpected and inconvenient in its timing; the periodicalRailspeculated that Stagecoach's rejection had been largely due to government officials feeling that the state was not receiving a sufficiently large share of the profits being generated by the franchise.[7]
In February 2016, the DfT announced that two companies,FirstGroupand Stagecoach, had been shortlisted to bid for the next South Western franchise.[8][9]During June 2016,MTR Corporationpartnered with FirstGroup in its bid, taking a 30% shareholding in the joint venture.[10][11]During July 2016, the DfT issued the Invitation to Tender.[12][13]
Franchise award
editDuring March 2017, the DfT announced that the South Western franchise had been awarded to First/MTR.[14]At the time, it was stated that its franchise period was to commence from 20 August 2017 and run through to 18 August 2024, although the deal had included an option for the DfT to extend it for a further 48 weeks.[15][16][17]
TheCompetition & Markets Authority(CMA) held an inquiry into the awarding; during July 2017, it sought undertakings from First/MTR that it would not abuse itsmonopolyon services to theWest of England,DorsetandSomerset,as FirstGroup also operated theGreater Western franchisein those regions.[18][19]FirstGroup and MTR responded with an offer to implement a cap upon unregulated fares between London and Exeter as a mitigating measure; the CMA chose to accept this concession.[20]On 20 August 2017, First/MTR took over South Western franchise operations, with services branded as South Western Railway (SWR).[21]
By April 2018, concerns had reportedly grown over SWR's performance over previous months; there had been a noted rise in both the number of delayed services and outright cancellations. Due to these concerns, the Transport Secretary,Chris Grayling,announced an independent review into the performance of South Western Railway and Network Rail; the review was welcomed by Winchester's MP,Steve Brine.[22]During July 2018, reports emerged that FirstGroup/MTR were in the process of renegotiating the SWR contract, allegedly due to the operator's inability to deliver on many of its promised improvements, as well as its declining performance andindustrial actionby its own staff.[23]
Between 2 December 2019 and 2 January 2020, theNational Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers(RMT) undertook 27days of strikes. These were in protest to the potential introduction of DOO (driver only operation) on SWR's new fleet of Bombardier-builtClass 701multiple units, which would thereby nullify the role of the guard.[24]
In January 2020, SWR announced that they were in discussions with the government regarding the future of the franchise following a £137million loss, with termination of the contract being a possibility.[25]
By mid-2020, SWR had considerably curtailed its services in response to the significant decline of passenger travel amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.[26][27]From 15 June 2020, both passengers and staff on public transport in England, including SWR services, were required to wear face coverings while travelling, and that anyone failing to do so would be liable to be refused travel or fined.[28][29]
In December 2020, it was announced that terms for the abolition of the franchise system for SWR had been agreed, and that the company would be given a management contract to run until 1 April 2023 when the ERMA (Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement) for the franchise ends in March 2021.[30]During October 2021, the contract was updated with a finish date of 28 May 2023, with an option to extend further if required by the DfT.[31] In February 2023, the contract was further extended until May 2025.[32]
SWR is one of several train operators impacted by the2022–2024 United Kingdom railway strikes,which were the first national rail strikes in the UK for three decades.[33]Its workers were amongst those participating inindustrial actiondue to a dispute over pay and working conditions.[34]The number of staff involved allowed SWR to remain capable of operating a minimal timetable on any of the planned dates for the strikes.[35][36]
Demise
editIn December 2024, after theStarmer governmentpassed legislation to re-nationalise passenger rail in Great Britain, the government announced that theSouth Western rail areawould be taken back into public ownership following the expiry of South Western Railway's contract.[37]The South Western area will be the first area to be re-nationalised.[37]TheDfT OperatoroperatedSouth Western Railwayis scheduled to takeover from SWR on 25 May 2025.[38][39]
Services
editSouth Western Railway is the main operator for western Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, and also serves Greater London, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon.
Most SWR services run on electrified lines using the 750VDCthird-railsystem. There is a diesel fleet for services on theWest of England lineto Salisbury and Exeter, using the unelectrified track beyondWorting Junctionjust west of Basingstoke, and for Salisbury to Southampton via Romsey services which also serve Eastleigh.
FromLondon Waterloo,SWR's London terminus, long-distance trains run to southern England, including the major coastal population centres of Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. There are also trains to Reading and Exeter, but these are not the principal fast services from London to those cities, which are operated fromLondon PaddingtonbyGreat Western Railway.The majority of its passengers are on suburban commuter lines in inner and south-west London, Surrey, east Berkshire, and north-east Hampshire.
As with most rail companies, non-folding bicycles are banned from peak-time trains to and from London. However, these restrictions apply only to cyclists boarding or alighting in the area bounded by Hook, Alton, Guildford, Reading and Dorking, in order to maximise available passenger space on the most crowded trains.[40]
Mainline services
editSWR operates regular services on fourmainlineroutes:[41][42]
- TheSouth West Main Line(SWML) runs betweenLondon(Waterloo station) and the town ofWeymouth;the route passes through several large towns and cities, includingWoking,Basingstoke,Winchester,Southampton,Bournemouth,PooleandDorchester.South Western Railway operates trains along the entire length of the line. Almost all trains operated by the company start from or terminate at London Waterloo with the exception of aWinchester-Bournemouth/Poolestopping service; these include semi-fast services to/from Southampton and Poole, and express services to/from Weymouth. There are also trains to and fromPortsmouth;these trains branch off the SWML atEastleigh,then proceed via theEastleigh to FarehamandWest Coastwaylines to Portsmouth Harbour station.
- ThePortsmouth Direct line(PDL) branches off the SWML at Woking and runs toPortsmouthviaGuildford,Haslemere,PetersfieldandHavant.South Western Railway operates all passenger trains on this route; these include fast and semi-fast services between London and Portsmouth, and semi-fast services as far as Haslemere.
- TheWest of England line(WEL) is the only mainline route that is not fully electrified.[43]It leaves the SWML atBasingstokeand runs toExeterviaAndover,Salisbury,GillinghamandYeovil.South Western Railway is the only operator on the line, with most services running between London and either Salisbury or Exeter St Davids. Some peak-time services terminate at various other destinations on the line, including Gillingham andYeovil Pen Mill.
- TheAlton lineleaves the SWML atBrookwood(just after Woking) and runs toAltonviaAldershotandFarnham.It is the shortest of the four mainline routes and as such it is sometimes considered an outer suburban route instead (however for ticketing purposes, it is classed as a mainline route). Services usually run the full length of the line between London and Alton, though some services terminate at Farnham.
In total, there are 14 mainline trains per hour departing London Waterloo in the off-peak; this number increases in the peak hours.[42]The majority of mainline services are operated byClass 444orClass 450EMUs,except for the West of England Main Line which is always operated byClass 158orClass 159DMUs(because it is unelectrified) and the Alton Line which also sees the occasional use ofClass 458units.
Metro and Suburban services
editSouth Western Railway also operates many suburban "Metro" services in and around London. These all run between London Waterloo andClapham Junction,where they split into two separate routes: via Putney and via Wimbledon.[41]All services on the suburban part of the network are operated byClass 450,Class 455,Class 458andClass 701electric multiple units.
Via Putney
editThe main route via Putney is known as theWaterloo to Reading Line.It runs between London andReadingand passes through towns such asStaines-upon-Thames,AscotandBracknell.It operates as a fast service as far asStaines,with Reading trains only calling atClapham Junction,Richmond,TwickenhamandFeltham.Branch lines on this route include:[41][42]
- TheHounslow Loop Line,which leaves the main line atBarnes,runs viaBrentfordand rejoins the line betweenWhittonandFeltham(with junctions in both directions). Most services on the branch run either between London and Weybridge (described below), or run in a loop from Waterloo to Waterloo via Brentford, Whitton and Richmond (these services run both clockwise and anticlockwise).
- TheKingston Loop Line,which branches off at Twickenham, runs via Kingston and joins the South West Main Line at New Malden. Most services on this line run in an anticlockwise loop, from Waterloo to Waterloo, via Putney, Strawberry Hill, Kingston and Wimbledon.
- There is also a branch line to Shepperton, however, this is only served by Putney trains at peak times.
- TheStaines to Windsor Line,which branches off the main line at Staines-upon-Thames and runs to Windsor & Eton Riverside station. Most services run semi-fast between London and Windsor.
- TheChertsey Branch Line,which leaves the main line at Virginia Water and runs to Weybridge. Most services on the line run between London and Weybridge via the Hounslow Loop Line; a few services are extended beyond Weybridge, to and from Woking.
- TheAscot to Guildford Line,which is only served by through trains at peak times; these services run between London and Aldershot.
A total of 12 trains per hour run between London Waterloo and Putney in the off-peak; this number increases in peak hours.[42]
Via Wimbledon
editThe main route via Wimbledon uses the slow tracks of the quadruple-trackSouth West Main Line.Suburban trains run along the mainline between London and Woking. Branch lines on this route include:[41][42]
- TheMole Valley Line,which branches off the main line at Raynes Park and runs via Epsom to Leatherhead, where the branch line itself splits into two lines: one to Guildford and one to Horsham via Dorking. SWR runs regular services to both Guildford and Dorking; the section between Dorking and Horsham is operated bySouthern.[44]
- TheChessington Branch Linebranches off the Mole Valley Line at Motspur Park and runs to Chessington.
- TheKingston Loop Line,which leaves the SWML at New Malden, runs via Kingston and joins the Waterloo to Reading line atTwickenham.Most services on this line run in a clockwise loop, from Waterloo to Waterloo, via Wimbledon, Kingston, Strawberry Hill and Putney.
- TheShepperton Branch Line,which branches off the Kingston Loop Line at Teddington. Most services on the branch line run between Waterloo and Shepperton via Wimbledon.
- TheHampton Court Branch Line,which leaves the main line at Surbiton and runs directly to Hampton Court.
- TheNew Guildford Line,which also branches off at Surbiton, running to Guildford via Claygate. The line joins the Guildford branch of the Mole Valley Line at Effingham Junction.
A total of 16 trains per hour run between London Waterloo and Wimbledon in the off-peak; this number increases in peak hours.[42]
Other services
editRoutes that do not start or terminate at London Waterloo include:[41][42]
- TheAscot to Guildford Line,which runs between Ascot and Guildford via Aldershot. Most services on the line run only between Ascot and Guildford, with no extension in either direction; however, some peak-time services do run between London and Farnham via Ascot. The shuttle services are usually operated byClass 450units.
- The western section of theWest Coastway Linebetween Portsmouth and Southampton. Class 450 units are usually in operation on this route.
- TheEastleigh to Romsey Linebetween Romsey and Eastleigh. Services on the line are extended beyond Eastleigh to and from Salisbury via Southampton Central and Romsey, in effect calling at Romsey twice. These services are operated usingClass 158units.
- TheWessex Main Linebetween Salisbury and Southampton. Services are extended beyond Southampton via the Eastleigh to Romsey Line, as described above.
- TheLymington Branch LinebetweenBrockenhurstandLymington Pierruns every 30 minutes between these two stations. This is done entirely by Class 450 units on this line.
- TheIsland Lineon the Isle of Wight, betweenRyde Pier HeadandShanklin.These services are operated using former London UndergroundClass 484converted fromLondon Underground D78 Stock.
Service table
editParts of this article (those related to the out-of-date service tables) need to beupdated.(September 2024) |
Details of each route, including maps and timetables, are on the South Western Railway official website(seeExternal linksbelow).As of December 2023, its routes off-peak Monday to Friday, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), include:[45]
Future services
editImprovements promised under the 2017 contract were:[46]
- Refurbished trains
- Journeys to London eight minutes faster fromSouthampton Central,nine minutes faster fromBournemouth,ten minutes faster fromExeter St Davidsand 14 minutes faster fromWeymouth
- Free Wi-Fi at all stations and on mainland trains
- 29 additional weekday and Saturday services betweenPortsmouth & SouthseaandSouthampton Central
- Hourly direct trains from Weymouth toPortsmouthto begin before 2019
- 35 additional weekday and Saturday services between Portsmouth & Southsea andLondon Waterloo
- More Sunday services
- Investment in stations, including improvements to Southampton Central station
- Live information on seating availability and crowding levels via a new mobile phone app
As of May 2019[update],there is also an hourly Sunday service betweenReading and Salisbury via Basingstoke(with trains running between morning and evening).[47]
In August 2021, the company announced the launch of "assisted boarding points" at all 189 stations on its network, allowing disabled or elderly passengers to ask for assistance onboard trains with as little as ten minutes' notice.[48]The scheme will include clear signage at stations, withQR codesallowing customers to send details of the assistance they require and their planned journey to staff, replacing older systems wherein assisted journeys had to be booked six hours to a day in advance.
Rolling stock
editSouth Western Railway inherited a fleet of Classes158,159,444,450,455,456,458and707from South West Trains, and subsequently re-introducedClass 442trains which had operated on Gatwick Express after earlier service with South West Trains. The current fleet for the Island Line,Class 484,entered service on 1 November 2021.[49]
During March 2020, the Class 442 fleet was withdrawn. One year later, SWR decided that they would not be returned to service and their re-introduction has been cancelled.[50]In March 2021, SWR announced it would be keeping 28 Class 458 units and will refurbish and reconfigure them to four carriages for planned deployment on the Portsmouth Direct Line instead of the Class 442.[51]
In early 2024 it was announced that the plan to use the refurbished and reconfigured Class 458s on the Portsmouth Direct Line had been dropped, and that South Western Railway has no current plans to use the 458/4s.[52][53]
On 24 June 2024 the first Class 458/4 entered public service, initially doing limited outer suburban routes such as London Waterloo to Weybridge via Addlestone.[54]
Classes455,456and707fleets will be replaced by 30 five-car and 60 ten-carClass 701units built atBombardier'sDerby Litchurch Lane Works,financed by ROSCORock Railfor£1 billion,[55]for use onReading,Windsorand London suburban services.[56][57][58]
By June 2023[update],42 of the 90 trains ordered had been accepted from Alstom.[59]The trains began to be used for passengers in January 2024.[60]
Current fleet
edit| Family | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Carriages | Routes | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||||
| South Western Railway | |||||||||
| Sprinter | 158Express Sprinter |  |
DMU | 90 | 145 | 8[61] | 2 | 1989–1992 | |
  | |||||||||
| 159South Western Turbo |  |
29[62][63] | 3 | West of England,Heart of WessexandWessex Main Lines: |
| ||||
  | |||||||||
| Siemens Desiro | 444 | |
EMU | 100 | 160 | 45 | 5 |
|
2003–2004 |
 | |||||||||
| 450 |  |
127 | 4 | Outer suburban routes:
|
2002–2006 | ||||
 | |||||||||
| BR Second Generation (Mark 3) | 455 |  |
75 | 120 | 83[64] | 4 | Inner suburban routes: | 1982–1985 | |
 | |||||||||
| Alstom Coradia Juniper | 458/4 |  |
20[65] | 5 | Outer suburban services:
|
| |||
| 458/5 |  | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Bombardier Aventra | 701/0Arterio |  |
100 | 160 | 60 | 10 | Reading,Windsorand south west London suburban services | 2019–2024[60] | |
| 701/5Arterio |  |
30 | 5 | ||||||
 | |||||||||
| Island Line | |||||||||
| Vivarail D-Train | 484 |  |
EMU | 60 | 100 | 5 | 2 | Island Line:Ryde Pier Head–Shanklin | |
 | |||||||||
Past fleet
editTrain types formerly operated by South Western Railway include:
- Class 483,all withdrawn from service on 3 January 2021 after 82 years of service, including their time withLondon Transport.[66]
- Class 442,permanently withdrawn in March 2020.[67]
- Class 456withdrawn from service 17 January 2022.[68]
| Family | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Carriages | Number | Routes operated | Built | Withdrawn | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||||||
| 1938 tube stock | 483 | 
|
EMU | 45 | 72 | 2 | 6 | Island Line | 1938 | 2020–2021 | Replaced byClass 484 |
| BR Second Generation (Mark 3) | 442Wessex Electrics | 
|
100 | 160 | 5 | 18 | 1987–1989 | 2020 | Replaced byClass 444 | ||
| 455 | |
75 | 120 | 4 | 9 | Inner suburban routes: | 1982–1985 | 2022 | Scrapped[64] | ||
| 456 | 
|
2 | 24 |
|
1990–1991 | Scrapped[69] | |||||
 | |||||||||||
| Siemens Desiro | 707Desiro City |  |
100 | 160 | 30[70] | 5 | Inner suburban services: | 2015–2018 | 2021–2024 | Transferred toSoutheastern | |
 | |||||||||||
Depots
editThe followingtrain depotsand stabling sidings are used for the South Western Railway fleet:
- Bournemouth depotis southwest ofBournemouth station,occupying the approach to the formerBournemouth West station.
- Farnham Traincare Depot,in Weydon Lane, was opened by theSouthern Railwayat the time of the electrification of the Portsmouth andAltonlines in 1937.[71]
- Feltham depotwas completed in 2021; it is intended to provide stabling for the Class 701 units.[72]
- Fratton Traincare Depotis located on central Portsea Island, alongsideFrattonstation.
- Northam Traincare Facilitywas built bySiemensin 2002 as the home depot for theDesirofleet as part of a 20-year maintenance contract.[73]It is located south ofSt Denys stationand is nearSouthampton Football Club'sSt Mary's Stadium.
- Ryde Traincare Depot,alongsideRyde St John's Roadon theIsle of Wightserviced theClass 483units that used to operate on the Island Line.[74][75][76]
- Salisbury depotmaintains the Class 158 and Class 159 fleet.[77]
- Strawberry Hill train maintenance depot in south west London, was built in 1897, is inside the triangular junction of the Shepperton Branch Line with the Kingston Loop Line, just yards fromStrawberry Hill railway station.
- Wimbledon Traincare Depotis located betweenWimbledonandEarlsfieldstations, on the main line to Waterloo, next to the Wimbledon railway viaduct.
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