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South Western Railway
SouthWesternRailway.svg
701 Kingston.jpg
A South Western Railway Class 701 at Kingston in May 2025
Overview
Main region(s)
Fleet size
Parent company DfT Operator
Reporting mark SW
Predecessor South Western Railway (First MTR)

South Western Railway (SWR) is a train company in Britain. It runs trains from London Waterloo to many places. These include south west London and areas like Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Dorset. SWR also has regional services in Devon, Somerset, and Wiltshire. On the Isle of Wight, it runs trains under the name Island Line.

SWR is a company owned by the government. It started running services on May 25, 2025. Before that, another company with the same name, owned by FirstGroup and MTR Corporation, operated these trains.

How South Western Railway Started

Before the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the Labour Party wanted to bring British railways back under government control. After they won the election, a new law was passed in November 2024. This law allowed the government to take over passenger train services.

In December 2024, it was announced that the contract for the previous South Western Railway would not be renewed. So, DfT Operator, a government-owned company, took over the services on May 25, 2025.

Train Routes and Services

South Western Railway is a major train operator in several parts of England. It covers western Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, and the Isle of Wight. It also serves Greater London, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, and Devon.

Most SWR trains run on electric lines. These lines use a special system called the 750-volt DC third rail. Some trains use diesel engines. These diesel trains run on lines that are not electric. For example, they go to Salisbury and Exeter.

From London Waterloo, SWR's main London station, long-distance trains travel to southern England. They reach big cities like Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, and Weymouth. There are also trains to Reading and Exeter. However, other companies run the fastest trains to those cities from London. Most SWR passengers use the local trains in London and nearby areas.

You usually cannot take non-folding bikes on trains during busy times. This rule helps make sure there is enough space for all passengers. It applies to people getting on or off trains in certain busy areas.

Main Train Lines

SWR runs regular trains on four main routes:

  • The South West Main Line (SWML) goes between London Waterloo and Weymouth. It passes through towns like Woking, Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton, and Bournemouth. SWR runs trains along the whole line. Most trains start or end at Waterloo. Some trains also go to Portsmouth. They leave the SWML at Eastleigh and continue to Portsmouth Harbour station.
  • The Portsmouth Direct line starts at Woking and goes to Portsmouth. It passes through Guildford, Haslemere, and Petersfield. SWR operates all passenger trains on this route. These include fast and semi-fast trains between London and Portsmouth.
  • The West of England line is mostly not electric. It leaves the SWML at Basingstoke and goes to Exeter. It passes through Andover, Salisbury, and Yeovil. SWR is the only company on this line. Most trains run between London and Salisbury or Exeter St Davids.
  • The Alton line leaves the SWML near Woking and goes to Alton. It passes through Aldershot and Farnham. This is the shortest main line. Trains usually run the full length between London and Alton.

In 2021, about 14 main line trains left London Waterloo every hour during off-peak times. This number increases during busy hours. Most main line trains are electric. However, the West of England Main Line uses diesel trains because it is not electric.

Local and Suburban Services

South Western Railway also runs many local "Metro" services around London. These trains run between Waterloo and Clapham Junction. From there, they split into two main routes: one via Putney and one via Wimbledon. All trains on these local routes are electric.

Via Putney

The main route through Putney is the Waterloo to Reading Line. It runs between London and Reading. It passes through towns like Staines-upon-Thames and Ascot. Branch lines on this route include:

  • The Hounslow Loop Line. Trains on this line often run in a loop from Waterloo back to Waterloo.
  • The Kingston Loop Line. Most trains on this line run in a loop from Waterloo, through Putney, Kingston, and Wimbledon.
  • The Staines to Windsor Line. Most trains run between London and Windsor & Eton Riverside station.
  • The Chertsey Branch Line. Most trains run between London and Weybridge.
  • The Ascot to Guildford Line. This line has through trains only during busy times.

In 2021, 12 trains per hour ran between London Waterloo and Putney during off-peak hours.

Via Wimbledon

The main route through Wimbledon uses the slower tracks of the South West Main Line. Local trains run along this line between London and Woking. Branch lines on this route include:

  • The Mole Valley Line. This line goes via Epsom to Leatherhead. From there, it splits to Guildford or Horsham.
  • The Chessington Branch Line. This line leaves the Mole Valley Line and goes to Chessington.
  • The Kingston Loop Line. Most trains on this line run in a loop from Waterloo, through Wimbledon, Kingston, and Putney.
  • The Shepperton Branch Line. Most trains on this line run between Waterloo and Shepperton.
  • The Hampton Court Branch Line. This line goes directly to Hampton Court.
  • The New Guildford Line. This line also goes to Guildford via Claygate.

In 2021, 16 trains per hour ran between London Waterloo and Wimbledon during off-peak hours.

Other Train Routes

Some SWR train routes do not start or end at London Waterloo:

  • The Ascot to Guildford Line runs between Ascot and Guildford.
  • The western part of the West Coastway Line runs between Portsmouth and Southampton.
  • The Eastleigh–Romsey line runs between Romsey and Eastleigh. These trains often continue to Salisbury.
  • The Wessex Main Line runs between Salisbury and Southampton.
  • The Lymington Branch Line runs between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier every 30 minutes.
  • The Island Line on the Isle of Wight runs between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin.

Train Service Table

Here is a look at SWR train routes during off-peak times, Monday to Friday, as of May 2025. The numbers show how many trains run per hour (tph).

Mainline services
Route tph Calling at
London Waterloo to Weymouth 1
  • Woking
  • Winchester
  • Southampton Airport Parkway
  • Southampton Central
  • Brockenhurst
  • Bournemouth
  • Branksome
  • Parkstone
  • Poole
  • Hamworthy
  • Wareham
  • Dorchester South
1
  • Clapham Junction
  • Basingstoke
  • Winchester
  • Southampton Airport Parkway
  • Southampton Central
  • Brockenhurst
  • New Milton
  • Christchurch
  • Pokesdown
  • Bournemouth
  • Poole
  • Hamworthy
  • Holton Heath
  • Wareham
  • Wool
  • Moreton
  • Dorchester South
  • Upwey
  • This route splits/merges at Bournemouth with the route to Poole, see below.
London Waterloo to Poole 1
  • Clapham Junction
  • Basingstoke
  • Winchester
  • Southampton Airport Parkway
  • Southampton Central
  • Brockenhurst
  • New Milton
  • Christchurch
  • Pokesdown
  • Bournemouth
  • Branksome
  • Parkstone
  • This route splits/merges at Bournemouth with the route to Weymouth, see above.
London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour 1
  • Woking
  • Farnborough (Main)
  • Fleet
  • Basingstoke
  • Micheldever
  • Winchester
  • Eastleigh
  • Hedge End
  • Botley
  • Fareham
  • Portchester
  • Cosham
  • Hilsea
  • Fratton
  • Portsmouth & Southsea
1
  • Woking
  • Guildford
  • Godalming
  • Haslemere
  • Petersfield
  • Havant
  • Fratton
  • Portsmouth & Southsea
1
  • Woking
  • Guildford
  • Farncombe
  • Godalming
  • Haslemere
  • Liphook
  • Liss
  • Petersfield
  • Rowlands Castle
  • Havant
  • Bedhampton
  • Hilsea
  • Fratton
  • Portsmouth & Southsea
London Waterloo to Haslemere 1
  • Clapham Junction
  • Woking
  • Worplesdon
  • Guildford
  • Farncombe
  • Godalming
  • Milford
  • Witley
London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids 1
  • Clapham Junction
  • Woking
  • Basingstoke
  • Andover
  • Salisbury
  • Tisbury
  • Gillingham
  • Templecombe
  • Sherborne
  • Yeovil Junction
  • Crewkerne
  • Axminster
  • Honiton
  • Feniton (1tp2h)
  • Whimple (1tp2h)
  • Cranbrook
  • Pinhoe
  • Exeter Central
  • Feniton and Whimple are served by alternating trains.
London Waterloo to Salisbury 1
  • Woking
  • Basingstoke
  • Overton
  • Whitchurch
  • Andover
  • Grateley
  • 2 trains extend to Yeovil Junction, calling at
    • Warminster, Westbury, Frome, Bruton, Castle Cary, and Yeovil Pen Mill.
London Waterloo to Basingstoke 2
  • Clapham Junction (1tph)
  • Surbiton
  • Walton-on-Thames
  • Weybridge
  • Woking
  • Brookwood
  • Farnborough (Main)
  • Fleet
  • Winchfield
  • Hook
London Waterloo to Alton 2
  • Clapham Junction
  • Surbiton
  • West Byfleet
  • Woking
  • Brookwood
  • Ash Vale
  • Aldershot
  • Farnham
  • Bentley (1tph)
Winchester to Southampton Central 1
  • Shawford
  • Eastleigh
  • Southampton Airport Parkway
  • northbound service runs through Southampton from Bournemouth
Southampton Central to Bournemouth 1
  • Totton
  • Ashurst New Forest
  • Beaulieu Road
  • Brockenhurst
  • Sway
  • New Milton
  • Hinton Admiral
  • Christchurch
  • Pokesdown
  • northbound service runs through Southampton to Winchester
Metro and Suburban services (via Putney)
Route tph Calling at
London Waterloo to Reading 2
  • Clapham Junction
  • Richmond
  • Twickenham
  • Feltham
  • Staines
  • Egham
  • Virginia Water
  • Longcross
  • Sunningdale
  • Ascot
  • Martins Heron
  • Bracknell
  • Wokingham
  • Winnersh
  • Winnersh Triangle
  • Earley
London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside 2
  • Vauxhall
  • Clapham Junction
  • Putney
  • Richmond
  • Twickenham
  • Whitton
  • Feltham
  • Ashford
  • Staines
  • Wraysbury
  • Sunnymeads
  • Datchet
London Waterloo to Weybridge 2
  • Vauxhall
  • Queenstown Road
  • Clapham Junction
  • Wandsworth Town
  • Putney
  • Barnes
  • Barnes Bridge
  • Chiswick
  • Kew Bridge
  • Brentford
  • Syon Lane
  • Isleworth
  • Hounslow
  • Feltham
  • Ashford
  • Staines
  • Egham
  • Virginia Water
  • Chertsey
  • Addlestone
London Waterloo to London Waterloo
via Kingston (anticlockwise)
2
  • Vauxhall
  • Queenstown Road
  • Clapham Junction
  • Wandsworth Town
  • Putney
  • Barnes
  • Mortlake
  • North Sheen
  • Richmond
  • St Margarets
  • Twickenham
  • Strawberry Hill
  • Teddington
  • Hampton Wick
  • Kingston...
  • Services continue to London Waterloo via Wimbledon (see below)
Metro and Suburban services (via Wimbledon)
Route tph Calling at
London Waterloo to London Waterloo
via Kingston (clockwise)
2
  • Vauxhall
  • Clapham Junction
  • Earlsfield
  • Wimbledon
  • Raynes Park
  • New Malden
  • Norbiton
  • Kingston...
  • Services continue to London Waterloo via Putney (see above)
London Waterloo to Shepperton 2
  • Vauxhall
  • Clapham Junction
  • Wimbledon
  • Raynes Park
  • New Malden
  • Norbiton
  • Kingston
  • Hampton Wick
  • Teddington
  • Fulwell
  • Hampton
  • Kempton Park
  • Sunbury
  • Upper Halliford
London Waterloo to Hampton Court 2
  • Vauxhall
  • Clapham Junction
  • Earlsfield
  • Wimbledon
  • Raynes Park
  • New Malden
  • Berrylands
  • Surbiton
  • Thames Ditton
London Waterloo to Woking 2
  • Vauxhall
  • Clapham Junction
  • Earlsfield
  • Wimbledon
  • Surbiton
  • Esher
  • Hersham
  • Walton-on-Thames
  • Weybridge
  • Byfleet & New Haw
  • West Byfleet
London Waterloo to Guildford 2
  • Vauxhall
  • Clapham Junction
  • Earlsfield
  • Wimbledon
  • Surbiton
  • Hinchley Wood
  • Claygate
  • Oxshott
  • Cobham & Stoke d'Abernon
  • Effingham Junction
  • Horsley
  • Clandon
  • London Road (Guildford)
1
  • Vauxhall
  • Clapham Junction
  • Earlsfield
  • Wimbledon
  • Raynes Park
  • Motspur Park
  • Worcester Park
  • Stoneleigh
  • Ewell West
  • Epsom
  • Ashtead
  • Leatherhead
  • Bookham
  • Effingham Junction
  • Horsley
  • Clandon
  • London Road (Guildford)
London Waterloo to Dorking 1
  • Vauxhall
  • Clapham Junction
  • Earlsfield
  • Wimbledon
  • Raynes Park
  • Motspur Park
  • Worcester Park
  • Stoneleigh
  • Ewell West
  • Epsom
  • Ashtead
  • Leatherhead
  • Box Hill & Westhumble
London Waterloo to Chessington South 2
  • Vauxhall
  • Clapham Junction
  • Earlsfield
  • Wimbledon
  • Raynes Park
  • Motspur Park
  • Malden Manor
  • Tolworth
  • Chessington North
Other services
Route tph Calling at
Ascot to Aldershot 2
  • Bagshot
  • Camberley
  • Frimley
  • Ash Vale
Guildford to Farnham 2
  • Wanborough
  • Ash
  • Aldershot
Southampton Central to Portsmouth & Southsea 1
  • St Denys
  • Bitterne
  • Woolston
  • Sholing
  • Netley
  • Hamble
  • Bursledon
  • Swanwick
  • Fareham
  • Portchester
  • Cosham
  • Hilsea
  • Fratton
Romsey to Salisbury 1
  • Chandler's Ford
  • Eastleigh
  • Southampton Airport Parkway
  • Swaythling
  • St Denys
  • Southampton Central
  • Millbrook
  • Redbridge
  • Romsey
  • Mottisfont & Dunbridge
  • Dean
Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier 2 Lymington Town
Island Line
Route tph Calling at
Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head 32
  • Lake
  • Sandown
  • Brading
  • Ryde St John's Road
  • Ryde Esplanade

Types of Trains (Rolling Stock)

South Western Railway uses several types of trains. These trains were taken over from the previous company. They include Classes 158 , 159 , 444 , 450 , 455 , 458 and 701 .

Current Train Fleet

Family Class Image Type Top speed Number Carriages Routes Built
mph km/h
South Western Railway
Sprinter 158
Southampton Central - SWR 158887 Salisbury service
Class 158 train
DMU 90 145 8 2
1989–1992
159
New SWR livery variation
Class 159 train
29 3 West of England, Heart of Wessex and Wessex Main Lines:
  • London Waterloo  – Exeter St Davids
  • 159/0: 1992–1993
  • 159/1: converted 2006–2007
Siemens Desiro 444
51133180752 1a510547ce o (444042 at SOA) (XAM-E1)
Class 444 train
EMU 100 160 45 5 London Waterloo  – Weymouth and Poole

London Waterloo  – Portsmouth Harbour (shared with Class 450s)

2003–2004
450
50988775501 63f612e1eb o (450021 at Petersfield) (XAM-E1)
Class 450 train
127 4
  • London Waterloo  – Portsmouth Harbour, Alton, Basingstoke or Reading
  • Southampton Central  – Portsmouth & Southsea
  • Brockenhurst  – Lymington Pier
  • Winchester  – Bournemouth
Outer suburban routes:
  • London Waterloo  – Windsor & Eton Riverside, Weybridge via Staines
  • London Waterloo via Hounslow
  • Ascot  – Guildford
  • Some express and inner suburban services
2002–2006
BR Second Generation (Mark 3) 455
20230527 SWR 455912
Class 455 train
75 120 79 4 Inner suburban routes:
  • London Waterloo  – Shepperton, Hampton Court, Woking
  • London Waterloo via Hounslow or Strawberry Hill
  • London Waterloo  – Dorking, Guildford via Cobham & Stoke D'Abernon or Epsom, Chessington South, or Windsor & Eton Riverside
1982–1985
Alstom Coradia Juniper 458/4
20240625 SWR 458415 WAT
Class 458 train
100 160 28 4 Outer suburban services:
  • London Waterloo  – Weybridge, Teddington or Windsor & Eton Riverside, Inner suburban services (Occasionally)
  • 2013–2016
  • (1998–2002 as 458/0)
  • (2000–2001 as 460)
458/5
20220912 SWR 458510
Class 458/5 train
75 120 4 5
Bombardier Aventra 701/0
SWR Class 701 first day in passenger service at Waterloo station 54
Class 701 train
100 160 60 10 Reading, Windsor and south west London suburban services 2019–2024
701/5
701518 with 701522 on a test run working 5Q51 London Waterloo to Southampton Down Loop passes Basingstoke 25 11 23 (53354672227)
Class 701/5 train
30 5
Island Line
Vivarail D-Train 484
484001 Shanklin
Class 484 train
EMU 60 100 5 2 Island Line: Ryde Pier Head  – Shanklin
  • 1978–1981 (as D78 Stock)
  • Converted 2020–2021

Train Depots and Maintenance

Train depots are places where trains are stored and repaired. Here are the depots used for South Western Railway trains:

  • Bournemouth Depot is near Bournemouth station.
  • Farnham Traincare Depot was opened in 1937. It was built when the Portsmouth and Alton lines became electric.
  • Feltham Depot was finished in 2021. It is used to stable the Class 701 trains.
  • Fratton Traincare Depot is on Portsea Island, next to Fratton station.
  • Northam Traincare Facility was built in 2002. It is the main depot for the Desiro trains. It is near Southampton Football Club's stadium.
  • Ryde Traincare Depot is on the Isle of Wight. It services the Class 484

trains used on the Island Line.

  • Salisbury Depot maintains the Class 158 and Class 159 trains.
  • Strawberry Hill Train Maintenance Depot was built in 1897. It is in south west London.
  • Wimbledon Traincare Depot is between Wimbledon and Earlsfield stations. It is next to the Wimbledon railway bridge.
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