South Western Railway (SWR) has announced that its passengers will soon benefit from improvements at ten 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 and New Haw, Earley, Farnham, Horsley, Southampton Central, Sunningdale and Totton stations will have more than £400,000 invested to provide better places for passengers 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. This will enable passengers to work remotely more easily, as SWR responds to changing working patterns since the pandemic.

The waiting rooms’ appearances will be refreshed, with new decorations on walls and ceilings and new flooring, while new seating and improved heating will make them more comfortable.

In line with what SWR describes as 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 passengers who use wheelchairs.

SWR will also add new noticeboards in some 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.

Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director for South Western Railway, commented: “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.

“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.”

John Wingham, Honorary Secretary of The Friends of Brockenhurst Station and parish councillor, commented: “We are delighted with the refurbishment which has also upgraded the room with standing workstations for business passengers and provided a relaxing calm area for those who find travelling somewhat stressful. Investments of this kind make rail journeys more attractive and boost the value of the railway to the community.”