Basingstoke railway station is a major junction on the line between London Waterloo and Southampton. Opened in 1839, through services to Southampton commenced in 1840.
It is effectively the junction where the line to Salisbury and Exeter Central diverges from the main line to Southampton and Bournemouth; and a further line, from Reading, joins from the north. Around 6 million passengers a year use the station, with an additional 2 million changing trains here.
The station has both fast and stopping services to London Waterloo, as well as regular services to Salisbury, Exeter Central, Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth Harbour, Weymouth, Reading, Birmingham, and Manchester. There is a more infrequent service to Bristol Temple Meads via Salisbury.
The station has a large ticket office, buffets, secure cycle storage, parking, and a taxi rank. Level access between platforms is provided by a lift. The station always seems to be busy, with trains arriving and departing every few minutes. read more