History
Southampton Central station was opened as Southampton West in 1895, to replace the original Blechynden/West End station (note nearby road namings). As built the station was on the seafront (specifically the stretch of water known as West Bay) with the water reaching right up to the southern edge of the platforms at high tide. A series of land reclamation projects to expand the docks, largely funded by the London and South Western Railway culminated in the building of the vast Western Docks between 1927 and 1934, which led to all of West Bay being reclaimed and the station becoming landlocked. The new land allowed the station to be enlarged and redeveloped in 1934-1935 (from two platforms to four), and became Southampton Central. Soon after the closure of Southampton Terminus station near the docks in 1966, the station was rebuilt in 1967, losing its clocktower, which was replaced with an office block. At this point it was renamed Southampton, although many years later it was once again renamed to Southampton Central.
Southampton Central is to undergo a revamp in the coming years. An £800,000 grant towards a £2.4 million of improvements has been provided by Southampton City Council in late November 2009. Network Rail will place £1.5 million with £475,000 from South West Trains who manages the station. The revamp will focus on an enlargement of the ticket hall, bus timetable displays, gate barriers (set to be upgraded to allow more people pass though the station), and overall facilities. The plan also hopes to improve disabled access to all areas of the station.
It was announced in late 2011 Southampton City Council has plans to re-build the whole station under the Western Gateway project. The project costing £200 million will see a new station with 10 platforms, and over 25,000sq metres of retail and office space. This project is part of the Future Southampton programme, set to be complete by 2025.
Southampton Central was flooded by torrential rainfall on 26 May 2008.
Read more about this topic: Southampton Central Railway Station
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