After campaigning for improvements, Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has welcomed the announcement of timetable changes by South West Trains that will increase the number of passengers that trains can accommodate in peak times.

Maria said: “Peak time trains are already operating at 20% over capacity, and I am pleased to see these extra services and longer trains, that will help to ease the overcrowding on our trains at the busiest times. There is of course still much more to do to increase capacity and conditions and I will continue to campaign on behalf of Basingstoke rail users.”

The changes announced by South West Trains will come into effect on Sunday 13 December and will provide approximately 57,000 extra seats throughout the week across the whole network. This includes two extra weekday morning services between London Waterloo and Poole, as well as additional Sunday services. 

In addition to the extra services, South West Trains is continuing to roll out additional and refurbished carriages, to increase the length of trains at the busiest times.