BASINGSTOKE station's blue badge parking area has been improved as part of a programme of investment at railway stations across Hampshire. 

South Western Railway (SWR) has completed more than 100 station improvement projects, investing more than £6.5m in stations across its network throughout 2023-2024. 

This includes upgrades at 32 stations of varying sizes in Hampshire, which have been revamped and restored thanks to SWR’s infrastructure and property teams.

The massive investment has delivered more modern facilities, greater accessibility and sustainability, and ensured a more comfortable and pleasant journey for customers. 

As well as improvements to blue badge parking areas, Basingstoke toilets have been fitted with RoomMate, which helps guide visually impaired people. 

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Basingstoke Railway Station Basingstoke Railway Station (Image: Contributed)

The completed projects are part of SWR’s programme continuous station improvements, to enhance the customer experience, and attract people to the railway as a greener and easier way to travel. 

On top of this investment programme, this week SWR will officially complete a major station improvement project. On Thursday, July 25, SWR will open Southampton Central station’s new interchange, following £5.5m of investment by SWR, Network Rail and Southampton City Council.

Alistair Wright, head of infrastructure and property at South Western Railway, said:   
“Every year, we make significant investments to improve and modernise our network to make every journey easy and reliable. Some changes may seem small, but they make a real difference. A fresh lick of paint to brighten surroundings, and features that make navigating a station or using the toilet that much easier, can make travelling by train a much more pleasant and comfortable experience.  

“Our stations are the heart of the communities we serve, and the teams can be really proud of the fantastic job that they have done to refresh and improve our spaces, particularly for customers with additional accessibility requirements.” 

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The station improvements include toilet refresh at Farnham, refurbished waiting rooms at Aldershot and Swanwick stations, the installation of RoomMate an automated audible guide to the toilet layout which can assist customers with sight loss at Aldershot, Basingstoke, Farnborough Main, Fratton and Southampton Central, and new benches at Micheldever and Sway, as well as new internal benches installed at Hinton Admiral, Hook, Netley, Rowlands Castle, Swanwick and Sway. 

Waiting shelters have been installed at Petersfield and an existing open waiting shelter at Hedge End has been improved. 

Other improvements have seen handrail replaced, anti-slip treads added to stair wells and access to blue badge parking has also been enhanced in key locations like Basingstoke. 

Fifteen stations have been painted: Beaulieu Road, Bentley, Chandlers Ford, Dean, Havant, Liss, Mottisfont, Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth & Southsea, Redbridge, Romsey, Shawford, Sholing, Southampton Airport Parkway, Swaythling and Woolston.