PROPOSALS to deliver more and faster trains for passengers moved a step closer after South Western Railway published the main outcomes of its recent timetable consultation, which drew over 7,000 responses from key stakeholders and customers from across the network.

Train planners have since been reviewing all comments and making changes wherever possible, before producing the final proposals for submission to Network Rail.

SWR states on analysis of the comments of the December 2017 survey it was clear there were a number of key issues customers wanted addressed which they have been discussing with the Department for Transport, amending proposals before producing a summary document.

SWR, which operates more than 1,700 services each weekday, says the most common requests were to retain certain stations in some of the proposed faster services as well as retain the ability to change at Clapham Junction, with an option for Woking.

The plans were amended to ensure trains calling at both Clapham Junction and Woking will be maintained on off-peak services.

SWR said it has received hundreds of emails from customers seeking more, not less trains stopping at Clapham Junction during peak hours, but they maintain the benefits to the majority of passengers is to provide the extra overall capacity and faster journeys to and from Waterloo, by not stopping as many services at the busy interchange at peak times.

Overall, there will be two fewer services over the morning peak period calling at Europe’s busiest railway station, which allows for seven additional services to be run providing 21 per cent additional capacity into London Waterloo.

Despite the reduction in the number of services calling at Clapham Junction the overall capacity of the trains that will stop there is increased by 28 per cent over the morning peak period by running trains with more carriages.

Service frequencies at Liss will be improved to two per hour throughout the day and on Saturdays and there will be revised and additional calls at Liphook, Liss and Rowlands Castle in rush hour and school times.

South Western Railway managing director Andy Mellors said: “I am grateful to everyone that participated in the consultation.

“We recognise this major timetable change will have a significant impact on our customers and the communities we serve. We have listened to, and where possible acted upon, the feedback we have been given, and I believe now have an improved plan which will deliver a better railway.

“Of course it has not been possible to meet every aspiration, and to address the most common piece of feedback, which was to retain certain station stops in some of proposed faster services has meant some difficult trade-offs have had to be made between maintaining connectivity and faster journey times.”

Detailed timetables cannot be produced until after Network Rail, which is responsible for capacity allocation, has reviewed the plans and how they fit with timetable bids made by other passenger and freight operators. Full timetables will be available later this year.