South Western Railway
South Western Railway operates every train out of London Waterloo — the UK's busiest station — running south and south-west to Reading, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth, Salisbury and Exeter.
About South Western Railway
London Waterloo handles around 87 million passengers a year, all on SWR. The network covers commuter suburbs (Wimbledon, Surbiton, Woking, Guildford) plus long-distance services to the South Coast and the West Country.
The new Class 701 Arterio fleet — built by Alstom in Derby — is gradually replacing older Class 455 and 458 trains across the inner suburban network, offering air conditioning, walk-through carriages and PIS.
SWR is scheduled to become the first major operator to be brought back into public ownership in May 2025 under the new Great British Railways framework.
Key South Western Railway routes
- London Waterloo → Readingvia Richmond, Twickenham, Staines (slow line)
- London Waterloo → Portsmouth Harbourvia Woking, Guildford, Petersfield
- London Waterloo → Weymouthvia Basingstoke, Southampton and Bournemouth
- London Waterloo → Exeter St DavidsWest of England line via Salisbury
Major destinations
- Reading
- Basingstoke
- Southampton Central
- Bournemouth
- Weymouth
- Portsmouth Harbour
- Exeter St Davids
- Salisbury
- Guildford
FAQs about South Western Railway
How long does SWR take from London to Portsmouth?
Fastest South Western Railway services reach Portsmouth Harbour in about 1h 30m from London Waterloo via Guildford and Haslemere.
What are the new Arterio trains?
Class 701 Arterio EMUs built by Alstom in Derby for SWR's inner suburban network. They are walk-through, air-conditioned 10-car units replacing the 1980s Class 455 fleet.
Will South Western Railway be nationalised?
Yes — SWR is scheduled to transfer to DfT Operator ownership in May 2025 as the first private operator nationalised under the new Great British Railways legislation.