As part of plans to transform gateways to the City Centre, an international gateway has been created at Southampton Central Station in partnership with South Western Railway, providing ease of access to the Port, cruise terminals and into the City Centre.
Benefits of the improvements include:
- New bus facilities – including dedicated bus stops and improved bus accessibility
- Passenger waiting lounge – high quality waiting area for passengers using buses, taxis and for those travelling to the cruise terminals. Its style will complement the art deco style of the station building
- Provision of e-scooter and e-bike for onward journeys into the City Centre and beyond
- Dedicated taxi facilities – a taxi rank for up to five vehicles within the forecourt with a taxi waiting area on Western Esplanade for up to 10 vehicles;
- Improved pedestrian access - dedicated crossing points within the forecourt with improved disabled parking and access
- High quality public realm – forecourt to be re-surfaced with high quality materials.
Project detail
Funded jointly by South Western Railway and the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, the area now benefits from a new multi-modal interchange that enables improved pedestrian access, safer crossing points, additional bus stop provision, disabled parking, along with better access into and out of the station for all vehicles. A dedicated drop off/pick up point has also been included in the upgrade.
These transformations purpose was to enhance onward transport links with improved outside passenger shelters that includes real time information detailed on them, a new taxi rank with improved waiting facilities along with availability of sustainable travel options such as e-bike and e-scooters.
Commuters will also see changes within the station forecourt, as South Western Railway build a new waiting lounge with up-to-date travel information.
Before:
After:
Central Station Interchange, now completed.