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{{Short description|Former Stagecoach-owned English train operator}}
{{About|the former operator of the South Western railway franchise|the current operator|South Western Railway (train operating company)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
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|regions= {{ubl|[[Greater London]]|[[Surrey]]|[[Hampshire]]|[[Isle of Wight]]|[[Dorset]]}}
|secregions= {{ubl|[[Berkshire]]|[[Wiltshire]]|[[Somerset]]|[[Devon]]}}
|fleet= {{ubl|373|1 [[British Rail Class 73|Class 73]] electro-diesel locomotive|11 [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158 ''Express Sprinter'']] sets|30 [[British Rail Class 159|Class 159 ''South Western Turbo'']] sets|45 [[British Rail Class 444|Class 444 ''Desiro'']] sets|127 [[British Rail Class 450|Class 450 ''Desiro'']] sets|91 [[British Rail Class 455|Class 455]] sets|24 [[British Rail Class 456|Class 456]] sets|36 [[British Rail Class 458|Class 458 ''Juniper'']] sets|2 [[British Rail Class 707|Class 707 ''Desiro City'']] sets|6 [[British Rail Class 483|Class 483]] sets}}
|franchise = [[South Western franchise|South West]]<br />4 February 1996 – 3 February 2007<br />[[South Western franchise|South Western]]<br />4 February 2007 – 20 August 2017
|stations = 213
|stationsop = 185 (including Island Line)
|parent_company = [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]]
|website= www.southwesttrains.co.uk
|abbr= SW
|map = [[File:South West Trains route map 2010.svg|300px|Route map]]
|successor = [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]]|predecessor=[[Network SouthEast]]<br />[[Island Line (brand)|Island Line]] (Island Line franchise)
}}
'''Stagecoach South Western Trains Limited''',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05599788|title=STAGECOACH SOUTH WESTERN TRAINS LIMITED|website=[[Companies House]]|publisher=[[Government of the United Kingdom|HM Government]]|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121210126/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05599788|archive-date=21 January 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> trading as '''South West Trains''' (SWT), was an English [[train operating company]] owned by [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]], which operated the [[South Western franchise]] between February 1996 and August 2017.
 
SWT operated the majority of commuter services from its [[Central London]] terminus at [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] to South West London and was the key operator for outer suburban and regional services in the counties of [[Surrey]], [[Hampshire]] and [[Dorset]]. It also provided regional services in [[Devon]], [[Somerset]], [[Berkshire]], [[Wiltshire]] and on the [[Isle of Wight]] through its [[Island Line (train operating company)|Island Line]] subsidiary. Unlike the majority of franchises, SWT operated without [[subsidy|subsidies]], being a profitable concern due to the high number of commuters that regularly used its services.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/>
 
The area of operation was the former South Western division of [[Network SouthEast]], and was also roughly that of the [[Railways Act 1921|pre-1923]] [[London & South Western Railway]] (excluding everything west of [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter]]). As part of the [[privatisation of British Rail]], SWT was taken over by [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]]. In 2004, the franchise was retained by Stagecoach when re-tendered. In 2007, the franchise was merged with the [[Island Line (train operating company)|Island Line]] franchise to form a newly extended South Western franchise, which was won by Stagecoach. When next tendered, the franchise was awarded to [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]] which took over the franchise on 20 August 2017.<ref>[http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/FGP/13171647.html FirstGroup and MTR welcome South Western rail franchise award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626083149/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/FGP/13171647.html |date=26 June 2018 }} London Stock Exchange 27 March 2017</ref>
 
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==History==
===Origins===
As a consequence of the [[privatisation of British Rail]] during the mid 1990s, railway operations were segmented into various [[Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain|franchises]], one of which being the [[South Western franchise]]. These franchises were awarded to various privately owned companies following an evaluation of competitive bids. During 1995, it was announced that the [[Director of Passenger Rail Franchising]] had awarded the South West Trains franchise to the Scottish transport group [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]].<ref>"{{cite magazine |title= Bus firm Stagecoach is first franchisee." ''| magazine = [[Rail (magazine)|RailMagazine]]'', |issue =269, |date=3 January 1996. p. |page=8.}}</ref><ref>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/02938995 Companies House extract company no 2938995]. South Western Trains Limited.</ref> Operations commenced on 4 February 1996, with South West Trains' first train, the 05:10 [[Twickenham railway station|Twickenham]] to London Waterloo; it was the first privatised scheduled train to operate for 48 years.<ref name=indyfirstpriv>{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/first-privatised-train-in-50-years-will-be-a-bus-1326620.html |title = First privatised train in 50 years will be a bus |work = [[The Independent]] |date = 31 January 1996}}</ref>
 
In April 2001, the [[Strategic Rail Authority]] awarded Stagecoach a new franchise for the region, its bid having been judged to be superior to those from its rivals, [[FirstGroup]] / [[Abellio (transport company)|NedRailways]] and [[Sea Containers]].<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200104020830094502B |title=Stagecoach Group Welcomes South West Trains Decision |publisher=Stagecoach Holdings |date=2 April 2001}}</ref> The 2001 franchises awarded were (as [[White paper|promulgated]]) to run for twenty years; however, only one year later, the Strategic Rail Authority decided to reduce the duration of franchises, thus South West Trains was awarded a three-year franchise starting on 1 February 2004.<ref>"{{cite magazine |title= SRA cuts SWT's new franchise plan from 20 years to just three." ''[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]'',date= 13 November 2002. p.|magazine= RAIL |issue= 448 |page= 4. }}</ref> Shortly following this award, SWT placed a substantial order for new rolling stock for the network, it was described as being the largest such order in British history.<ref>"{{cite magazine |title= SWT retains franchise -– and places Britain's biggest-ever train order." ''| magazine = [[The Railway Magazine]]'', |issue =1202, |date=June 2001. p. |page=5.}}</ref>
 
During the early days of its franchise, SWT gained notoriety for enacting severe cuts to its services, which were typically attributed to the shortage of drivers; the company sought to remedy this by seeking to hire additional drivers.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/south-west-trains-to-hire-drivers-after-pounds-90m-order-1261422.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/south-west-trains-to-hire-drivers-after-pounds-90m-order-1261422.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=South West Trains to hire drivers after £90m order |newspaper=The Independent |date=14 May 1997 |access-date=27 April 2010 |location=London}}</ref> SWT also implemented significant improvements upon the network, including replacing much of the inherited British Rail-era [[rolling stock]], along with the refurbishment of most stations, which included increasing their accessibility to disabled passengers. There was also an emphasis on the improving the customer experience, such as better access to service information. During the early 2000s, improvements included the introduction of new rail services and the reopening of [[Chandler's Ford railway station|Chandler's Ford station]] in [[Hampshire]].<ref>"{{cite magazine |title= First trains call at Chandler's Ford station." ''| magazine = [[Rail'', issueMagazine]] |issue=463, |date=11 June 2003. p. |page=21.}}</ref>
 
===Changes===
From May 2004, a [[smoking ban]] on all SWT services was introduced; this move, which came partly in response to a fire caused by a cigarette left next to an under-seat heater during the previous year that raised safety concerns, also pre-empting [[smoking ban in England|the public smoking ban]] that was introduced two years later.<ref>{{cite news |title= Smoking ban on trains extended |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3737527.stm |work=BBC News |date=22 May 2004 |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> Additional staff were deployed onboard trains to help enforce the change. At the time, most other commuter services had already banned smoking, and the measure was claimed by the [[Evening Standard]] to be popular with the majority of the travelling public.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/smoking-safety-scare-sparks-swt-ban-6947780.html |title = Smoking 'safety scare' sparks SWT ban |publisher = [[Evening Standard]] |date = 1 December 2003}}</ref>
 
On 12 December 2004, the company completely recast its timetable, the first occasion that such an exercise had been performed in the South West region since 1967. This was reportedly motivated by ambitions to bring service provision into line with changing demand and to take into account the different characteristics of modern rolling stock,. withWithin a year, the intentionnew thattimetable thishad woulddelivered improvean increase in reliability and punctuality across the network, measured as a 12% improvement in the operator's Public Performance Measure.<ref>{{CitationCite news needed|date=January 202127 February 2020 |title= Creating the Right Time Railway |work= Modern Railways |url= https://www.modernrailways.com/article/creating-right-time-railway |access-date= 29 September 2023 }}</ref> Further major changes to the timetable followed in subsequent years, including the restoration of services between [[Yeovil]] and [[Yeovil Pen Mill]] that had been withdrawn under the [[Beeching cuts]].<ref name = "railmag 2015"/>
 
During December 2005, the [[Department for Transport]] (DfT) announced that [[Arriva]], FirstGroup, [[MTR Corporation|MTR]]/Sea Containers, [[National Express]] and Stagecoach had been shortlisted to tender for the new South Western franchise, which combined the South West Trains and Island Line Trains franchises; National Express later withdrew.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/archive/2005-12-20.aspx |title=Stagecoach Group shortlisted for South Western rail franchise |date=20 December 2005 |publisher=Stagecoach Group |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-south-western-brief/ |title = South Western stakeholder briefing |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 4 April 2006}}</ref> In September 2006, the DfT awarded the franchise to Stagecoach, the new franchise starting on 4 February 2007, for a period of ten years.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5369688.stm |title=Stagecoach wins railway franchise |date=22 September 2006 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Stagecoach Wins South West Trains Contract |last = Davidson |first = Ros |url= https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/sep/22/transportintheuk.money |access-date=25 September 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |location =London |date=22 September 2006}}</ref>
 
Throughout the operation of the franchise, passenger numbers grew year on year, along with rapid spikes in numbers occurring in some years.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/> While many franchises required government funding to sustain their services, SWT operated without any [[subsidy|subsidies]] and was a profitable venture. This outcome was largely on account of the high proportion of commuters that made frequent use of its services. One of the franchise's major ongoing concerns was the overcrowding that occurred on some services, particularly around [[rush hour]], thus SWT's management paid considerable attention to increasing capacity when feasible.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/>
 
Major measures performed by SWT to expand the network's capacity included the substantial redevelopment of its [[London Waterloo station]] and the procurement of new rolling stock.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/><ref>{{cite press release |publisher = South West Trains |title = London commuters to benefit from longer peak time trains |date = 23 December 2011 |url = http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/extracapacity.aspx |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120117060738/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/extracapacity.aspx |archive-date = 17 January 2012 |df = dmy-all |access-date = 23 December 2011 }}</ref> Christian Roth, SWT's engineering director, claimed in 2015 that the firm was in the process of delivering similar capacity improvements to the [[Thameslink]] programme at a tenth of the cost and a quarter of the time.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/> While some rival companies chose to pursue [[One-person operation|driver-only operated]] trains, eliminating the necessity of a guard, SWT senior manager [[Brian Souter]] promised to keep a guard on every service; one consequence of this agreement was strong relations between the company and the [[trade union]]s.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/>
 
Further measures were also proposed by SWT; Tim Shoveller, the company's managing director, periodically spoke out on his desire to eventually introduce [[Bilevel rail car|double-decker trains]] to serve its busiest commuter routes.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/> While typically viewed as an effective means of increasing capacity, such ambitions were complicated by multiple factors, the principal of which that there were no double-deck trains in operation that were believed to be suitable for SWT's needs, thus likely necessitating the development of an original design.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/> Procuring a small fleet of bespoke rolling stock would certainly incur a steep price rise over conventional rolling stock, while handling the increased dwell times typically necessary when operating double-deck trains would also adversely impact the timetable; finally, no such rolling stock could be operated until the completion of track lowering across substantial portions of the network, particularly around bridges and tunnels, for sufficient headroom to be achieved.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/>
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In March 2013, the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] announced the DfT was in talks with Stagecoach to extend the franchise until April 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement |title= Rail franchising: Railway plan puts new focus on passengers |publisher= Department for Transport |date=26 March 2013}}</ref> At one point, it seemed certain that the franchise would be renewed, information to that effect having been included on the Government's published Rail Franchise Schedule in October 2014.<ref name = "railmag 2015">{{cite news |url= https://www.railmagazine.com/operations/franchises/end-of-the-line-for-south-west-trains |title= End of the line for South West Trains? |work=Rail |location= Peterborough |date=5 August 2020}}</ref> However, in July 2015, Stagecoach confirmed that talks had failed and the franchise would be relet.<ref>{{cite news |title=South West Trains franchise 'out to competition' |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33436408 |access-date=13 December 2015 |work=BBC News |date=7 July 2015}}</ref> This outcome was viewed by several industry commentators as being unexpected and inconvenient in its timing; the periodical ''Rail'' speculated that Stagecoach's rejection had been largely due to government officials feeling that the state was not receiving a sufficiently large share of the profits being generated.<ref name = "railmag 2015"/>
 
Stagecoach and a FirstGroup / MTR Corporation joint venture were shortlisted on 4 February 2016 to bid for the new franchise.<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/two-companies-shortlisted-to-compete-for-the-next-south-western-rail-franchise |title=Two companies shortlisted to compete for the next South Western rail franchise |publisher= Department for Transport |date=4 February 2016}}</ref> On 27 March 2017, the franchise was awarded to [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]],<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-mtr-south-western-trains-limited-wins-south-western-franchise |title=First MTR South Western Trains Limited wins South Western franchise |publisher=Department for Transport |date=27 March 2017}}</ref><ref>[http://www.firstgroupplc.com/about-firstgroup/uk-rail/improving-south-western-railway.aspx Improving South Western Railway] FirstGroup plc, 27 March 2017</ref> in spite of concerns that it would result in a single company holding a [[monopoly]] on services between London and the [[West of England]], [[Dorset]] and [[Somerset]], due to FirstGroup also operating the [[Greater Western franchise]] in those regions.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/firstgroup-and-mtr-south-western-rail-franchise-merger-inquiry FirstGroup and MTR / SouthWestern rail franchise merger inquiry] Competition & Markets Authority</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gerrard |first1=Bradley |title=Rail fares set to be capped between London and Exeter |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/08/18/rail-fares-set-capped-london-exeter/ |access-date=29 August 2017 |work=The Telegraph |location= London |date=18 August 2017}}</ref>
 
==Services==
Line 63:
From [[London Waterloo station|Waterloo]], SWT's London terminus, long-distance trains ran to southern England, including the major coastal population centres of Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. There were also trains to Reading, Exeter and Bristol, but these were not the principal fast services from London to those cities, which are operated from {{stnlink|London Paddington}} by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]. The majority of its passengers were on suburban commuter lines in inner and south-west London, Surrey, east Berkshire, and north-east Hampshire.
 
After privatisation in 1996, the network changed considerably, no longer serving [[West Croydon railway station|West Croydon]], [[Sutton railway station (London)|Sutton]], 'Coastway' stations between [[Chichester railway station|Chichester]] and [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]], or the [[Reading–Basingstoke line|Reading to Basingstoke line]]. Services to [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol]] (introduced in 2004 to replace withdrawn [[Arriva Trains Wales]] services), [[Mottisfont & Dunbridge railway station|Mottisfont and Dunbridge]] and [[Dean railway station|Dean]] were introduced after the start of the franchise. Its longstanding services beyond [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter]] to [[Paignton railway station|Paignton]], [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]] and [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]], which ran in competition with [[First Great Western]] and its predecessors, ceased in December 2009 so as to release stock for the hourly Waterloo to Exeter service.<ref>{{cite news |work=Rail |location =Peterborough |issue=595 |date=2 July 2008magazine |title= SWT Exeter – Paignton / Plymouth will stop in December 2009 | magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue=595 |date=2 July 2008 |page=20 |location=Peterborough}}</ref>
 
As with most rail companies, non-folding bicycles were banned from peak-time trains to and from London. However, these restrictions applied only to cyclists boarding or alighting in the area bounded by Hook, Alton, Guildford, Reading and Dorking.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/cycle-policy.aspx |title=Cycle policy |publisher=South West Trains |access-date=26 December 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130430185237/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/cycle-policy.aspx |archive-date=30 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The aim was to maximise available passenger space on the most crowded trains.
Line 70:
 
===Routes===
South West Trains operated suburban and long-distance trains. Main destinations included: [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]], [[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]], {{stnlnk|Barnes}}, [[Richmond station (London) station|Richmond]], [[Twickenham railway station|Twickenham]], [[Hounslow railway station|Hounslow]], [[Ascot railway station (Berkshire)|Ascot]], [[Staines railway station|Staines]], [[Reading railway station|Reading]], [[Windsor & Eton Riverside railway station|Windsor & Eton Riverside]], [[Kingston (London) railway station (England)|Kingston]], [[Raynes Park railway station|Raynes Park]], [[Motspur Park railway station|Motspur Park]], [[New Malden railway station|New Malden]], [[Chessington South railway station|Chessington South]], [[Surbiton railway station|Surbiton]], [[Leatherhead railway station|Leatherhead]], [[Weybridge railway station|Weybridge]], [[Dorking railway station|Dorking]], [[Effingham Junction railway station|Effingham Junction]], [[Woking railway station|Woking]], [[Guildford (Surrey) railway station|Guildford]], [[Aldershot railway station|Aldershot]], [[Alton railway station|Alton]], [[Farnborough (Main) railway station|Farnborough Main]], [[Fleet railway station|Fleet]], [[Basingstoke railway station|Basingstoke]], [[Haslemere railway station|Haslemere]], [[ Andover railway station (England)|Andover]], [[Winchester railway station|Winchester]], [[Eastleigh railway station|Eastleigh]], [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton Central]], [[Romsey railway station|Romsey]], [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]], [[Fareham railway station|Fareham]], [[Portsmouth & Southsea railway station|Portsmouth & Southsea]], [[Brockenhurst railway station|Brockenhurst]], [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth Harbour]], [[Bournemouth railway station|Bournemouth]], [[Westbury railway station|Westbury]], [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads]], [[Weymouth railway station|Weymouth]], [[Yeovil Junction railway station|Yeovil Junction]] and [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter St Davids]].
 
===Main lines===
[[File:444029 at Woking.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 444|Class 444 Desiro]] unit used on longer-distance services on the electrified railway lines.]]
[[File:Gb-emudc-455732-2.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 455|Class 455]] suburban unit at [[Wimbledon station|Wimbledon]]. These were used on inner suburban services.]]
[[File:Class159002 at Clapham Jcn.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 159|Class 159]] South Western Turbo unit at [[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]]. These were used for long distance [[West of England line|West of England Mainline]] services to Salisbury and Exeter St Davids.]]
 
The seven main lines operated by SWT were:
* The [[South West Main Line]] (SWML) to [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton Central]], [[Bournemouth railway station|Bournemouth]] and [[Weymouth railway station|Weymouth]]. 2 trains an hour through to Weymouth (1 fast and 1 semi-fast) and 1 train an hour to [[Poole railway station|Poole]] (stopping) Mondays-Saturdays, with Sunday Bournemouth services extended to Poole.
* The [[Portsmouth Direct Lineline]] via [[Guildford railway station, Surrey|Guildford]] and [[Haslemere railway station|Haslemere]]: leaves the main line at [[Woking railway station|Woking]]. 4 trains per hour to Guildford, then 1 semi-fast service and 1 stopping service to Haslemere. The semi-fast service continued as a stopping service to Portsmouth. The fast services ran approximately half-hourly Mondays-Saturdays, 2 trains per hour (1 fast, 1 stopping from Guildford) on Sundays.
* The [[West of England Main Line]] to [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]], [[Yeovil Junction railway station|Yeovil Junction]] and {{stnlink|Exeter St Davids}}: leaves the main line at [[Basingstoke railway station|Basingstoke]].
* [[Wessex Main Line]] (part): Salisbury to [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads]]. This service originated from London Waterloo and divides at Salisbury.
* [[Heart of Wessex Line]] (part): [[Yeovil Junction railway station|Yeovil Junction]] to [[Yeovil Pen Mill railway station|Yeovil Pen Mill]] / [[Frome railway station|Frome]]. This service originates from London Waterloo and divides at Yeovil Junction.
* London Waterloo to [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth Harbour]] via [[Basingstoke railway station|Basingstoke]] and [[Eastleigh railway station|Eastleigh]]. Hourly service off-peak Mondays-Saturdays, merges with the Poole train on Sundays.
* London Waterloo to Reading via [[Staines-upon-Thames]], [[Ascot railway station (Berkshire)|Ascot]] and {{Stnlnk|Wokingham}}.
Line 88:
===Suburban services===
Suburban services diverged from the above routes. Taken in order westwards from Waterloo, travelling down the SWML, they are:
* [[Waterloo to ReadingWaterloo–Reading line]]: from [[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]]
** The [[Hounslow Loop Lineline]] from Barnes to [[Whitton railway station|Whitton]] or [[Feltham railway station|Feltham]]
** The [[Windsor & Eton Riverside railway station|Windsor]] branch from [[Staines railway station|Staines-upon-Thames]]
** The [[Chertsey railway station|Chertsey]] loop line from [[Virginia Water railway station|Virginia Water]] to [[Weybridge railway station|Weybridge]]
** The Ascot to [[Guildford (Surrey) railway station|Guildford]] line via [[Aldershot railway station|Aldershot]]
* The [[Sutton & Mole Valley Line|Mole Valley Line]], from [[Raynes Park railway station|Raynes Park]] to [[Dorking railway station|Dorking]] via [[Epsom railway station|Epsom]]
** The [[Chessington Branch Lineline|Chessington branch]] from [[Motspur Park railway station|Motspur Park]]
** The branch to Guildford from [[Leatherhead railway station|Leatherhead]]
* The [[Kingston Looploop Lineline]], from [[New Malden railway station|New Malden]] (Main Line) to [[Twickenham railway station|Twickenham]] (Reading Line)
** The [[Shepperton railway station|Shepperton]] branch from [[Teddington railway station|Teddington]]; normally, these services run via New Malden, some peak services run via Twickenham
* The [[New Guildford Lineline]], to Guildford via [[Cobham & Stoke d'Abernon railway station|Cobham]] from [[Surbiton railway station|Surbiton]] (travellers from Guildford to London can also travel via the main line through Woking)
* The [[Hampton Court railway station|Hampton Court]] branch, also from Surbiton
* The [[Alton Lineline|Alton]] branch, from [[Brookwood railway station|Brookwood]] also serves the [[Mid Hants Railway]], a heritage line
 
===Other services===
* Southampton local lines: [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]] to [[Romsey railway station|Romsey]] via [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton Central]] and [[Chandler's Ford railway station|Chandler's Ford]] (previously this service ran to [[Totton railway station|Totton]])
* [[Lymington Branchbranch Lineline]] ([[Brockenhurst railway station|Brockenhurst]] to [[Lymington Pier railway station|Lymington Pier]])
*[[Island Line, Isle of Wight]], [[Ryde Pier Head railway station|Ryde Pier Head]] to [[Shanklin railway station|Shanklin]]
* Southampton Central to [[Portsmouth & Southsea railway station|Portsmouth & Southsea]]
 
Line 122:
 
===Penalty fares===
South West Trains issued [[penalty fare]]s for passengers travelling by train without a valid ticket. However, the company had planned to install at least one self-service ticket machine at each of its served stations in the bid to stop [[fare evasion]]. In 2009, ticket gates were installed at Waterloo to improve revenue protection.<ref>"{{cite magazine |title= Waterloo ticket gates longest in Europe" ''| magazine = [[The Railway Magazine]]'' |issue =1295 |date=March 2009 |page =76}}</ref>
 
===Megatrain===
Line 136:
===Electric===
====Desiro fleet====
The introduction of [[Desiro]] rolling stock built by [[Siemens Mobility|Siemens]] was to replace the old {{brc|411}}, {{brc|412}}, {{brc|421}} and {{brc|423}} [[slam-door trains]], which were coming to the end of their useful lives,life-expired and which did not meet modern health and safety requirements; a franchise commitment was to replace all slam-door stock by the end of 2005.{{citation needed|date=November 2010}} The Desiro trains have on-board information systems and full air-conditioning. Their faster acceleration is counterbalanced by the need to dwell longer at each station, since they have fewer doors.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}
 
The Desiro stock comes in two variants – {{brc|450}} units which have four 20&nbsp;m cars and are mainly used on suburban and outer-suburban services, and {{brc|444}} units which have five 23&nbsp;m cars as well as intercity-style door layouts and are used on longer-distance services to {{Stnlnk|Weymouth}} and {{Stnlnk|Portsmouth Harbour}}.
Line 146:
 
====British Rail EMUs (Class 456)====
All 24 {{brc|456}} two-car EMUs were transferred from [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] to SWT, with the first units entering SWT service on 23 March 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CLASS 456 ENTERS SERVICE|url=http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/swt/2014-456-enter-service.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417035455/http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/swt/2014-456-enter-service.html|archive-date=17 April 2014|access-date=26 June 2021|website=Southern Electric Group}}</ref> These early 1990s-built units are compatible with the existing Class 455 fleet and are coupled with these to form ten-car trains, increasing capacity on some local services in and out of Waterloo.<ref>"{{cite magazine |title= Cascaded 456s to give SWT commuters more seats" ''| magazine = [[Rail'' issueMagazine]] |issue=696 |date=16 May 2012 |page =10}}</ref>
 
====Coradia Juniper fleet (Class 458/0 – 458/5)====
[[File:458030 at Clapham Junction.jpg|thumb|A {{brc|458}} ''Juniper'' pre-modifications at [[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]]]]
[[File:Class 458534 Blue at Clapham.JPG|thumb|A [[British Rail Class 458|Class 458/5]] ''Coradia Juniper'' post-modifications at [[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]]]]
Thirty of these four-car units were ordered by South West Trains in 1998, to create extra capacity and to replace some of the ageing [[British Rail Class 411|Class 411 (4-CEP)]] trains, which at the time were on short-term lease. Deliveries of these trains began in 1998.
 
Line 157:
However, later it was decided that, on or before the start of the new franchise in February 2007, the class would be reinstated and take over all operations on the Waterloo to Reading line, indirectly covering the loss of the Class 442. They have been fitted with new, larger destination screens that comply with the disability legislation, but the trains still fall foul in some other areas, such as the height of the door-open buttons.
 
All 30 Class 458 trains were split up and the 120 vehicles reconfigured into 36 five-car sets, incorporating 60 extra vehicles from the mechanically similar {{brc|460}} formerly used on [[Gatwick Express]] services.<ref name=Rail25Jan12>{{cite newsmagazine |last= Clinnick |first= Richard |date= 25 January 2012 |title= Class 460 driving vehicles made redundant |authormagazine=Clinnick, RichardRAIL |workissue=Rail |location=Peterborough688 |datepages=25 January28-29 2012 |page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite newsmagazine |last= Walmsley |first= Ian |title= Junipers United: Darth Vader goes suburban |author=Walmsley, Ianmagazine |work= [[Modern Railways]] |location=London |dateissue=February 2012 |page=40 | location=London}}</ref> The five-car sets are now designated Class 458/5 and since 2014 have been coupled together to form ten-car trains from 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title= £42m for longer Waterloo trains |workdate=Rail 11 January 2012 |locationmagazine=Peterborough RAIL |dateissue=11 January 2012687 |page= 7 }}</ref><ref name=SWT23Dec11>{{cite press release |url= http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/extracapacity.aspx |title=London commuters to benefit from longer peak time trains |publisher=South West Trains |date=23 December 2011 |access-date=30 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117060738/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/extracapacity.aspx |archive-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
The first two of the five-car sets were delivered in October 2013, and underwent testing ahead of the introduction of the first ten-car train into service in December 2013. Passenger service started in March 2014,<ref>{{cite news |work=Railway Gazette |location= London |title= South West Trains prepares to introduce longer trains |url= http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/south-west-trains-prepares-to-introduce-longer-trains.html |date=23 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/longertrains.aspx|title=Improving Your Railway – Longer Trains|work=South West Trains|access-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626050449/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/longertrains.aspx|archive-date=26 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the work concluding in 2016, thereby rendering the Class 458/0 extinct.
Line 167:
 
The Class 159/1 units were converted at Wabtec, Doncaster from Class 158s, received from [[First TransPennine Express]] in exchange for {{brc|170}}s. Eleven further two-car Class 158 units were received from First TransPennine Express, which were also refurbished at Wabtec.
 
Two Class 158 units transferred from [[Central Trains]] entered service in July 2005 on the new [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads]] service, moving to [[First ScotRail]] in February 2007.{{cn|date=April 2022|reason= scot-rail.co.uk is a fansite not a reliable source}}
 
The Class 159 has on occasion been used for railtours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukrailtours.com/ |title=UK Railtours |publisher=UK Railtours |access-date=28 April 2014}}</ref>
Line 205 ⟶ 203:
|2
|11
|[[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] – [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]] / [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter St Davids]] (Occasionally) / [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads]]<br>[[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter St Davids]] – [[Honiton railway station|Honiton]] / [[Axminster railway station|Axminster]] (Weekday service)<br>[[Romsey railway station|Romsey]] – [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]] via [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton Central]]<br>[[Brockenhurst railway station|Brockenhurst]] – [[Lymington Pier railway station|Lymington Pier]] (Weekday services)
|{{nobr|1989{{ndash}}1992}}
|-
Line 217 ⟶ 215:
|3
|30
|[[West of England Main Line|West of England]] / [[Heart of Wessex Line|Heart of Wessex]] / [[Wessex Main Line]]s:<br>[[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] – [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]] / [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads]] / [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter St Davids]] / [[Yeovil Pen Mill railway station|Yeovil Pen Mill]] / [[Frome railway station|Frome]]<br>[[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth Harbour]] – [[Basingstoke railway station|Basingstoke]] (Morning Service)<br> [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth Harbour]] – [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton Central]] (Occasionally)
[[Yeovil Junction railway station|Yeovil Junction]] – [[Yeovil Pen Mill railway station|Yeovil Pen Mill]] (Peak Hours only)
|{{ubl|{{nobr|159/0: 1992{{ndash}}1993}}|{{nobr|159/1: Converted 2006{{ndash}}2007}}}}
|-
Line 230 ⟶ 228:
|5
|45
|Main Line Routes:<br>[[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] – [[Poole railway station|Poole]] / [[Weymouth railway station|Weymouth]]
[[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] – [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth Harbour]] (Shared with Class 450s Weekdays and Sundays) <br>Limited Outer Suburban Routes
|2003{{ndash}}2004
|-
Line 243 ⟶ 241:
|4
|127
|Main Line Routes: [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] – [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth Harbour]] (Shared with Class 444s weekdays and Sundays)/ [[Alton railway station|Alton]] / [[Basingstoke railway station|Basingstoke]] / [[Poole railway station|Poole]] (Occasionally) / [[Reading railway station|Reading]] <br>[[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton Central]] – [[Portsmouth & Southsea railway station|Portsmouth & Southsea]] <br>[[Brockenhurst railway station|Brockenhurst]] – [[Lymington Pier railway station|Lymington Pier]] (Weekend services)
<br>
Outer Suburban Routes:
[[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] – [[Windsor & Eton Riverside railway station|Windsor & Eton Riverside]] / [[Weybridge railway station|Weybridge]] via [[Staines railway station|Staines-upon-Thames]] / [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] via [[Hounslow railway station|Hounslow]]<br>[[Ascot railway station (Berkshire)|Ascot]] – [[Guildford (Surrey) railway station|Guildford]]<br>
Limited Express and Inner suburban services
|2002{{ndash}}2006
Line 252 ⟶ 250:
| colspan="7" | [[File:Class 450 South West Trains Diagram.PNG|640px]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 455|Class 455]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Reading SWT - 455721-455863.JPG|130x130px]]<br>[[File:Guildford railway station MMB 24 455853.jpg|130px]]<br>[[File:455904 D London Waterloo.JPG|130px]]
|align=center|[[Electric Multiple Unit|EMU]]
Line 259 ⟶ 257:
|4
|91
|Inner Suburban Routes:<br>[[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] – [[Shepperton railway station|Shepperton]] / [[Hampton Court railway station|Hampton Court]] / [[Woking railway station|Woking]] / [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] via [[Hounslow railway station|Hounslow]] /[[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] via [[Strawberry Hill railway station|Strawberry Hill]] / [[Dorking railway station|Dorking]] / [[Guildford (Surrey) railway station|Guildford]] via [[Oxshott railway station|Oxshott]] or [[Epsom railway station|Epsom]] / [[Chessington South railway station|Chessington South]] / [[Windsor and Eton Riverside railway station|Windsor & Eton Riverside]]
|{{ubl|1982{{ndash}}1985|2004{{ndash}}2007 (refurbished)}}
|-
| colspan="7" | [[File:Class 455 South West Trains Diagram.PNG|640px]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 456|Class 456]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:SWR 456 014 at Guildford.jpg|130x130px]]
|align=center|[[Electric Multiple Unit|EMU]]
Line 277 ⟶ 275:
| colspan="7" | [[File:Class 456 South West Trains Diagram.png|320px]]
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[British Rail Class 458|Class 458/5 ''Coradia Juniper'']]
|rowspan=2 |[[File:458 526 leaving Waterloo.jpg|130x130px]]
|align=center|[[Electric Multiple Unit|EMU]]
Line 285 ⟶ 283:
|36
|Outer Suburban Services:
[[London Waterloo station|London Waterloo]] – [[Weybridge railway station|Weybridge]] / [[Windsor & Eton Riverside railway station|Windsor & Eton Riverside]] via [[Staines railway station|Staines upon Thames]]
|{{ubl|2013{{ndash}}2016|(199{{ndash}}2002 as Class 458/0)|(2000{{ndash}}2001 as Class 460)}}
|-
Line 297 ⟶ 295:
|5
|2
|[[London Waterloo station|London Waterloo]] – [[Windsor & Eton Riverside railway station|Windsor & Eton Riverside]] via [[Staines railway station|Staines upon Thames]]
|2016{{ndash}}2017
|-
Line 326 ⟶ 324:
|2
|6
|[[Ryde Pier Head railway station|Ryde Pier Head]] – [[Shanklin railway station|Shanklin]]
|{{ubl|1938|1989{{ndash}}1992 (refurbished)}}
|}
Line 348 ⟶ 346:
|[[British Rail Class 411|Class 411 (4Cep)]]
|[[File:CEP (Corridor Electro-Pneumatic) in a Quarry - geograph.org.uk - 639863.jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="76" |[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|29
| rowspan="34" |May 2005
|-
|[[British Rail Class 412|Class 412 (4Bep)]]
Line 358 ⟶ 356:
|[[British Rail Class 421|Class 421 (4Cig)]]
|[[File:1313 at London Waterloo.JPG|100px]]
|3234
|-
|[[British Rail Class 421|Class 421 (3Cig)]]
|[[File:1498 at Lymington Pier.JPG|100px]]
|2
|May 2010
|-
|[[British Rail Class 423|Class 423 (4Vep)]]
|[[File:3414 and 3419 at London Waterloo.JPG|100px]]
|66
|May 2005
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[British Rail Class 442|Class 442 ''Wessex Electrics'']]
Line 383 ⟶ 375:
|March 2009
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[British Rail Class 458|Class 458/0 ''Coradia Juniper'']]
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Clapham Junction railway station MMB 24 458004 458XXX.jpg|100px]]
|rowspan=2 |[[Electric Multiple Unit|EMU]]
Line 401 ⟶ 393:
In 2000, South West Trains acquired eight 2-car [[British Rail Class 170|Class 170/3]] units to supplement its existing [[British Rail Class 159|Class 159]] fleet. They were used on London to Salisbury services as well as a new [[Southampton]] local service, and on [[Reading railway station|Reading]] to [[Basingstoke railway station|Basingstoke]] services. They were sometimes pressed into use on Waterloo-Exeter services but, as they were not fitted with end gangways for catering or [[selective door opening]] for the short platforms at some stations, this was not a regular route.
 
From late 2006 to mid-2007, the Class 170 units were gradually transferred to [[First TransPennine Express]] in exchange for a larger number of [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]] units, to expand and standardise the fleet. One unit, 170392, originally built to [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] specifications but taken over by SWT soon after its construction, went to Southern and was converted to a [[British Rail Class 171|Class 171]].<ref>{{Citationcite magazine |title= Extra 170 for Southern needed|date=May 2016February 2007 |magazine= Today’s Railways UK |issue= 62 |page= 63 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title= DMU digest |date= September 2007 |magazine= Today’s Railways UK |issue= 69 |page= 62 }}</ref>
 
====Preserved trains====
Line 420 ⟶ 412:
<gallery>
File:Guildford railway station MMB 24 455853.jpg|The red livery symbolised short-distance journeys, such as the [[Hounslow Loop Line]]
File:Portsmouth and Southsea railway station MMB 02 450097.jpg|The blue symbolised medium distance services, such as the [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton Central]] to [[Portsmouth & Southsea railway station|Portsmouth & Southsea]].
File:Exeter St Davids - SWT 158883-159006 arrived from Waterloo.JPG|The white symbolised long-distance services, such as [[London Waterloo station|London Waterloo]] to [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter St Davids]].
</gallery>
 
Line 431 ⟶ 423:
===Bournemouth===
{{Main|Bournemouth Train & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot}}
Bournemouth depot is southwest of [[Bournemouth railway station|Bournemouth station]], occupying the approach to the former [[Bournemouth West railway station|Bournemouth West station]]. Until their withdrawal in February 2007, the depot was home to the Class 442 (5Wes) ''Wessex Electrics''. The branch turns off at [[Branksome railway station|Branksome station]] where trains can be seen stopping at platform 2 and reversing into the depot.
 
===Clapham===
Line 438 ⟶ 430:
===Northam===
{{Main|Northam Carriage Servicing Depot}}
[[Northam, Southampton|Northam]] depot was built by [[Siemens]] in 2002 as the home depot for the [[Desiro]] fleet as part of a 20-year maintenance contract.<ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/desiro-uk-demands-a-pit-stop-approach.html "Desiro UK demands a pit stop approach]". ''Railway Gazette''. 1 March 2002.</ref> It is located south of [[St Denys railway station|St Denys station]] and is near [[Southampton F.C|Southampton Football Club's]] [[St Mary's Stadium]].
 
===Effingham===
{{Main|Effingham Junction Carriage Holding Sidings}}
Located next to [[Effingham Junction railway station|Effingham Junction station]], the depot is used for the berthing of MPVs (Multipurpose Vehicles). It has two pitted roads and a fuel point.
 
===Salisbury===
Line 453 ⟶ 445:
 
===Farnham===
[[Farnham Traincare Depot|Farnham depot]], in Weydon Lane, was opened by the [[Southern Railway (Great Britain)|Southern Railway]] at the time of the electrification of the Portsmouth and {{stnlnk|Alton}} lines in 1937.<ref>Railway{{cite Gazette,magazine 1937</ref><!---INADEQUATE|title= REFERENCE:Civil requiresEngineering month,|date= title25 ofJune article,1937 preferably|magazine= alsoRailway Gazette |volume= 66 |issue= 26 |page= number-----1234 }}</ref> It was refurbished for the introduction of modern units when slam-door trains were replaced circa 2005. At the same time, disused quarry and ballast dump sidings behind the carriage shed were removed and a number of outdoor sidings were laid for overnight storage and servicing of units.
 
==See also==
Line 462 ⟶ 454:
{{Reflist|30em}}
 
{{Commons category-inline}}▼
==External links==
▲{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Official website}}
 
{{s-start}}
Line 472 ⟶ 462:
{{s-bef|before=[[Island Line (brand)|Island Line]]<br><small>'''Island Line franchise'''</small>}}
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Operator of [[South Western franchise]] |years=2007–2017}}
{{s-aft|rows=2 |after=[[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|before=South West Trains<br><small>'''South West franchise'''</small>}}
Line 481 ⟶ 471:
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:Defunct train operating companies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Surrey]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Dorset]]
Line 490 ⟶ 480:
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 2017]]
[[Category:Railway operators in London]]
[[Category:Former Stagecoach Group rail services]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2017 disestablishments in England]]
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