Success for local rail campaigners

11.16.24am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 3rd Apr 2006

Good news for rail campaigners as service is saved

Campaigners led by two Liberal Democrat MPs have secured the future of a Hampshire rail service.

After a long campaign by local residents, Romsey MP Sandra Gidley and Chris Huhne, MP for Eastleigh, the Government has confirmed that the service between Romsey and Southampton via Chandlers Ford will be retained and extended through to Salisbury.

This will improve services for passengers travelling from Salisbury and Southampton Airport Parkway. It will also provide a regular half-hourly service between Salisbury and Southampton. This new service will enable a limited number of calls at Dean and Dunbridge stations.

Sandra said:

"This is great news for local train passengers.

"The campaign has included lobbying and a debate in the House of Commons. The recent meeting was the culmination of a lot of effort and over two and a half thousand local people signed the Liberal Democrat petition.

"I am delighted that the Minister has taken on board the strength of local feeling and that a solution has been reached which will tackle both problems.