South Western Railway

News

South Western Railway to retain ageing Class 455s for up to five more years

New five-year deal set to be signed with Porterbrook.

South Western Railway 24 Jun

Feature

SWR returns to the public domain - but what difference will it make?

…but what difference will it make to services and passengers? Paul Clifton canvasses the opinion of rail leaders on SWR’s past, present and future.

Policy 10 Jun

South Western's 701046 at London Waterloo before the first nationalised service to Shepperton on May 25. DFTO.

News

Lord Hendy outlines work to do to improve renationalised South Western operation

South Western Railway became the first of ten operators to be nationalised as part of Labour's rail reform plans.

South Western Railway 29 May

Great British Railways teaser on the side of a South Western Railway train. DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT.

News

South Western Railway nationalised as first services operate under DFTO control

South Western Railway is first of three passenger train operators to be nationalised in 2025.

South Western Railway 25 May

News

The story of South Western Railway after 29 years as a private operator

Formerly South West Trains, the operator that ran the first privatised service in 1996, is now under DFTO control.

South Western Railway 25 May

First Island Line train to serve Ryde Pier since September 2024 is seen at around 0523 on May 2 2025. NETWORK RAIL.

News

Full Island Line services resume after nine-month closure of pier

Ryde Pier had been closed to trains since September 2024.

Island Line 6 May

News

Heidi Alexander quizzed by MPs over South Western Railways blunder

MPs have quizzed Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander after national media reports of a rail nationalisation blunder that is claimed to have cost taxpayers £250 million.

Heidi Alexander 23 Apr

GBRF class 47 class 701 move, Kemble. JOSH MASON.

News

Safety concerns mean delayed SWR trains enter service with guards closing the doors

South Western Railway is to use guards to close train doors at stations on its long-delayed fleet of Class 701 Arterio trains.

South Western Railway 11 Apr

An Island Line Class 484 comes off Ryde Pier. SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY.

News

Network Rail outlines when next Island Line closure for further renewal work will take place

The full route to Ryde Pier is set to reopen at the start of May.

Island Line 4 Apr

South Western Railway 159009 and 158885 arrive at Overton on April 18 with the 0640 Exeter St Davids-Basingstoke. The operator is exploring options for sections of third-rail electrification along the route. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Decision on how to replace SWR's diesel units needed "within a year or two"

Replacement for Class 158s and '159s' could also affect future development of Salisbury station.

South Western Railway 4 Apr

Two Class 701s engaged on driver training and mileage accumulation at Waterloo, before 701037 arrived to be scrutinised. PIP DUNN

News

SWR's Class 701s delayed again - operator admits introduction is "not going as planned"

Arterio fleet has been beset by delays with only five out of 90 in service

South Western Railway 21 Mar

News

Island Line to reopen fully in May - but further closure expected

Isle of Wight trains will run along Ryde Pier again from early May.

Island Line 18 Mar

News

Trespasser 'hell bent' on escaping police jailed after delaying 921 trains and costing Network Rail £1.2m

A motorcyclist who fled onto the South Western Main Line to escape police caused huge disruption.

South Western Railway 19 Feb

Feature

Train test: are SWR’s Arterios worth the wait?

Pip Dunn tests South Western Railway’s Class 701s now that they are in traffic.

Reviews 3 Feb

One of the oldest Salisbury-based Class 159 diesel trains, 159106, at Gillingham station in Dorset on 14 January. SWR says the 35-year-old fleet will be life-expired soon after 2030. BBC/PAUL CLIFTON.

News

'Failing' Waterloo-Exeter line 'sorely in need of investment' as study recommends key improvements

Study into West of England Line comes after government cancelled improvements to neighbouring A303 road

South Western Railway 17 Jan

South Western Railway's (SWR) 458414, the last unit to be refurbished by Alstom. CAROL TAYLOR.

News

SWR not ruling out using refurbished '458s' on Portsmouth line as fleet is deployed on suburban routes

Fleet has been upgraded to run at 100mph but is being deployed on suburban routes

South Western Railway 9 Jan

News

FirstGroup's half-year results reveal plans for 'operational delivery' for rail

Company presented upbeat set of half-year results to shareholders at end of 2024.

FirstGroup 6 Jan

News

Surrey railway line to close for six days after ground mini landslip at embankment

Sensors detected ground movement at the embankment near Guildford

Network Rail 19 Dec

South Western Railway (SWR) 701031 arrives at London Waterloo for the Arterios' official launch into traffic. SWR.

News

Another two years before SWR's full fleet of Class 701 Arterios are in service

The fleet was officially launched into traffic at London Waterloo by former England cricketer Stuart Broad

South Western Railway 13 Dec

News

Network Rail confirms Ryde Pier reopening remains 'on schedule' after nine-month closure

The Island Line closed in September for a month, but the pier remains shut while parts of the metal structure are replaced

Island Line 11 Dec

South Western Railway

South Western Railway to retain ageing Class 455s for up to five more years

SWR returns to the public domain - but what difference will it make?

Lord Hendy outlines work to do to improve renationalised South Western operation

South Western Railway nationalised as first services operate under DFTO control

The story of South Western Railway after 29 years as a private operator

Full Island Line services resume after nine-month closure of pier

Heidi Alexander quizzed by MPs over South Western Railways blunder

Safety concerns mean delayed SWR trains enter service with guards closing the doors

Network Rail outlines when next Island Line closure for further renewal work will take place

Decision on how to replace SWR's diesel units needed "within a year or two"

SWR's Class 701s delayed again - operator admits introduction is "not going as planned"

Island Line to reopen fully in May - but further closure expected

Trespasser 'hell bent' on escaping police jailed after delaying 921 trains and costing Network Rail £1.2m

Train test: are SWR’s Arterios worth the wait?

'Failing' Waterloo-Exeter line 'sorely in need of investment' as study recommends key improvements

SWR not ruling out using refurbished '458s' on Portsmouth line as fleet is deployed on suburban routes

FirstGroup's half-year results reveal plans for 'operational delivery' for rail

Surrey railway line to close for six days after ground mini landslip at embankment

Another two years before SWR's full fleet of Class 701 Arterios are in service

Network Rail confirms Ryde Pier reopening remains 'on schedule' after nine-month closure

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

South Western Railway

South Western Railway to retain ageing Class 455s for up to five more years

SWR returns to the public domain - but what difference will it make?

Lord Hendy outlines work to do to improve renationalised South Western operation

South Western Railway nationalised as first services operate under DFTO control

The story of South Western Railway after 29 years as a private operator

Full Island Line services resume after nine-month closure of pier

Heidi Alexander quizzed by MPs over South Western Railways blunder

Safety concerns mean delayed SWR trains enter service with guards closing the doors

Network Rail outlines when next Island Line closure for further renewal work will take place

Decision on how to replace SWR's diesel units needed "within a year or two"

SWR's Class 701s delayed again - operator admits introduction is "not going as planned"

Island Line to reopen fully in May - but further closure expected

Trespasser 'hell bent' on escaping police jailed after delaying 921 trains and costing Network Rail £1.2m

Train test: are SWR’s Arterios worth the wait?

'Failing' Waterloo-Exeter line 'sorely in need of investment' as study recommends key improvements

SWR not ruling out using refurbished '458s' on Portsmouth line as fleet is deployed on suburban routes

FirstGroup's half-year results reveal plans for 'operational delivery' for rail

Surrey railway line to close for six days after ground mini landslip at embankment

Another two years before SWR's full fleet of Class 701 Arterios are in service

Network Rail confirms Ryde Pier reopening remains 'on schedule' after nine-month closure

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Chiltern Railways on verge of agreeing deal to take ex-TransPennine Express Mk 5s

Why the Class 67s have been running on borrowed time for nearly the whole of their lives

Network Rail begins process to replace rail infrastructure monitoring trains