South Western Railway
South Western Railway runs from London Waterloo to Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Exeter and the Isle of Wight's Island Line.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Official website
- Official website
- Train tickets
- Direct
South Western Railway (SWR) runs from London Waterloo across the south and south west of England, and out to the Isle of Wight through its Island Line branch. The network covers more than 200 destinations. That spans London commuter towns such as Woking, Surbiton and Wimbledon, and longer trips to Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Exeter.
Where SWR runs
Most SWR services start or end at London Waterloo, with lines fanning out through Surrey and Hampshire to the south coast, and further west into Devon. Portsmouth Harbour, Southampton Central and Bournemouth are among the busiest stations outside London. Island Line, the separate Isle of Wight branch between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin, is also part of the SWR network and runs its own fleet, Class 484.
Tickets and fares
SWR sells the standard range of UK ticket types: Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak and Semi Flex Return, along with GroupSave and Group Travel discounts, Evening Out and Sunday Out tickets, and London Travelcards. Season tickets come as Weekly, Monthly, Monthly Plus, Monthly auto renewal and Annual passes, with a Flexi Season option for part-time travel patterns.
Railcards are accepted, including the 16-17 Saver, 16-25 Student, 26-30, Two Together, Disabled Persons, Family and Friends, HM Forces, Veterans, Network and Senior Railcards. Tickets can be bought as paper tickets, eTickets, on a Smartcard, or through Oyster and contactless pay as you go, including the Tap2Go extension for journeys beyond the standard Oyster zone.
SWR's Price Promise applies to direct bookings made through its own website or app. A claim must be submitted within 24 hours of purchase, for the same date, time, origin, destination and ticket type, fully on SWR trains.
Trains and onboard facilities
SWR's fleet includes the newer Arterio units alongside older Desiro (Class 444 and 450), South Western Turbo (Class 159), Express Sprinter (Class 158) and Class 455 trains, plus Class 484 on Island Line. Onboard facilities vary by train but can include First Class, Wi-Fi and space for prams. Bikes and pets both travel, with space limited on busier services.
Combined ferry and Island Line tickets
Combined ferry and train tickets, covering a Solent crossing and the onward Island Line journey, can be bought online, through the app or at ticket offices. The usual Railcard discounts apply to most of these fares.
Where to book
Train tickets
- Buy direct from South Western Railway
South Western Railway
Frequently asked questions
Where does South Western Railway run?
SWR runs from London Waterloo across the south and south west of England to destinations including Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Exeter, plus the Isle of Wight via Island Line.
What ticket types does SWR sell?
SWR sells Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak and Semi Flex Return tickets, along with GroupSave, Evening Out, Sunday Out tickets, London Travelcards and a full range of season tickets.
Does SWR accept Railcards?
Yes. SWR accepts the standard national Railcards, including the 16-25, 26-30, Two Together, Family and Friends, Senior, Network, HM Forces, Veterans and Disabled Persons Railcards.
Is Island Line part of South Western Railway?
Yes. Island Line, the Isle of Wight branch between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin, is operated by South Western Railway using its own Class 484 trains, and combined ferry and train tickets are available.
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Official website
