Passengers travelling through Southampton Central station in Hampshire will face significant disruption to step-free access as all station lifts undergo a major refurbishment programme lasting over five months. Starting on Monday 13 April 2026 and continuing until Wednesday 26 August 2026, the work will affect all three platform lifts, creating challenges for wheelchair users, elderly travellers, families with prams, and cruise passengers carrying heavy luggage.
The South Western Railway project will be completed in three phases to manage the impact on the station, which serves over six million passengers annually. The lift at Platform 1 will be replaced from 13 April to 26 May, followed by the lift at Platform 4 from 27 May to 7 July. The final phase, involving the lifts for Platforms 2 and 3, is set for 16 July to 26 August.
During the first two phases of the project, a free taxi service will be available to help passengers transfer between platforms, and staff will be on hand to assist with luggage. However, during the final phase of work on Platforms 2 and 3, passengers needing step-free access are advised to travel to nearby stations such as Brockenhurst or Southampton Airport Parkway to access the rail network.
The station remains staffed 24 hours a day, and travellers requiring support can book help through the Assisted Travel service up to two hours before their journey. Passengers are encouraged to check for the latest information regarding the Southampton Central lift refurbishment on the operator’s website before travelling.
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