As part of plans to transform gateways to the City Centre an international gateway will be 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 will 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 five car taxi rank within the forecourt with a 10 car taxi waiting area on Western Esplanade
- 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 will benefit from a new multi-modal interchange that will enable improved pedestrian access, include 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 will also be included in the upgrade. The high-quality public realm hard landscaping design will draw on the original art deco influences that currently benefit the station.
These transformations will enhance onward transport links with improved outside passenger shelters that will include 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.
The work will include significant changes to the vehicular entrance and exit points of the station which will necessitate lane alterations on Western Esplanade to ensure the safety of the public and our workforce during the phases from May 2023 onward.
Development of the new multi-modal interchange on the South side of Central Station will commenced in February 2023 in partnership with Balfour Beatty Living Places who will be working from 7.30am - 5pm. Monday – Friday and there will be times when the team will be working on Saturdays too.
During the construction phase there will be limited vehicular access to the area. Taxis will be available from the northern side of the station only and all car parking, including disabled parking will be moved to the north side within Southbrook Car Park. Please see the maps on the left showing how to access the station during these times.
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Phase 8 during June to August 2023
Works in these phases include:
- Work on the taxi facilities on Western Esplanade
- Continuation of works to the entrance/exit of the forecourt
- Pedestrian improvements along the footpath of Western Esplanade
Traffic Management, Phasing, and Site constraints:
This phase is taking place before phases 6 & 7 in order to utilise the road space needed for the lane restriction before the busy summer holidays begin. During this work there will be a lane restriction in place on lane 1 travelling eastbound on Western Esplanade, similarly to Phases 4 and 5. There will be a lane restriction on a portion of Mountbatten Way travelling eastbound in order to prevent traffic turning onto lane 1 whilst it is closed, and there will be no left turn from Central Station Bridge to Western Esplanade.
Work will also be taking place on the footpaths near Central Station Bridge, and pedestrian diversions may be in place during this time.
Similar to Phases 4 and 5, the eastbound lane restriction will remain in place for the duration of the work due to the depth of excavation required, so we recommend planning your journeys ahead of time. Taxis and buses will still not be able to access the south side of the station and will need to continue to use the northern side (Blechynden Terrace) at this time.
Access will only be afforded to deliveries and staff when safe to do so.
Phase 4 and 5 during May to July 2023
Works in these phases include:
- Widening of the southern station entrance
- Improvements to the taxi rank layby
Traffic Management, Phasing, and Site constraints:
During these phases, a lane restriction will be in place on lane 1 travelling eastbound on Western Esplanade. This work is expected to take approximately 3 weeks, with our working hours being between 7:30am and 5:00pm. The eastbound closure will remain in place for the duration of the work due to the depth of excavation required, so we recommend planning your journeys ahead of time. Taxis and buses will still not be able to access the south side of the station, and access will only be afforded to deliveries and staff when safe to do so.
Please see the map below for more information:
Phase 2 during February to May 2023
Works in these phases include:
- Station side site clearance of the footway
- Installation of new ducting for lamp columns, ducting and feeder pillar for True
- Station side high-quality public realm footway construction.
Traffic Management, Phasing, and Site constraints:
During this phase the traffic management set up remains the same as Phase 1, but with the pedestrians diverted into the forecourt. With construction plant, materials, and some welfare accommodated in the forecourt. Access points into/out of the station are to be constructed half and half to maintain pedestrian access throughout. An access corridor is to be maintained, to facilitate this the paved areas are to be constructed in two stages.
Phase 2 designs can be viewed here.
Phases 1 and 3 during February to May 2023
Works in these phases include:
- Site clearance of station side kerb line and island kerbs and lamp columns (by others)
- Installation of new ducting for lamp columns
- Install new Drainage
- Construction of kerb lines and new central islands
- Civils associated with installation of occupancy detectors
Traffic Management, Phasing, and Site constraints:
During these phases the station forecourt is closed to traffic, pedestrians will be routed along the station side site boundary on the existing footway. Access into the station forecourt will be from Mountbatten Way is under a priority give way. Phase 1 and 3 works are concurrent; however, Phase 3 is to be constructed half and half to maintain access to the station delivery loading bays.
Two way in/out to station car park West will be maintained by removing South parking bays. Full phase 1 designs and phase 3 designs can be viewed here.
Please note, CGI is a representation of how the scheme may look and is subject to change.