Swanwick station has no step-free route between platforms. Fareham council is set to give £65,000 towards lifts; ministers decide once design ends in 2027.

Lifts to both platforms at Swanwick station have moved a step closer. Fareham Borough Council is set to put £65,000 towards the scheme, to show the government there is local backing for it.

At the moment there is no step-free way between the two platforms. Passengers who cannot use stairs have no lift to cross. The council’s Executive is asked to approve the money tonight, Monday 2 November, according to the report to the Executive.

Where the scheme has got to

Swanwick is in the national Access for All programme, which pays for step-free access at stations. The report sets out how far it has come:

  • 2022: South Western Railway nominated Swanwick for the programme.
  • May 2024: the government named it among 50 stations for feasibility work.
  • January 2026: the scheme moved on to detailed design.
  • By autumn 2027: design work on all 23 stations in this round should be finished. Half is due to be done by the end of March 2027.

After that, ministers decide whether the lifts are actually built. The report says the Department for Transport has told councils that affordability and “local commitment” will be key to that decision. Network Rail is looking for around 20% of the cost from local partners. The total cost has not been settled. The report calls it “a scheme costed at several million pounds”.

What the money is, and where it comes from

The £65,000 would come from unspent Section 106 money: payments developers make towards transport when they build. It would not come from council tax. The council would also send what the report calls a “strong letter of support”.

Hampshire County Council is spending £600,000 on separate work around the station, the report says. The Department for Transport counts that as local support for the lifts. It covers:

  • better walking routes to the station
  • separate cycle lanes
  • improved bus interchange
  • better walking and cycling links to Whiteley and Segensworth

Who it would help

The lifts would serve platforms 1 and 2, giving a step-free route from the entrance to every train. The report lists wheelchair users, older passengers, parents with pushchairs, cyclists and anyone carrying luggage.

It also points to the western wards. Swanwick is within walking distance of the Park Gate shops, and the train is an alternative to the congested A27 for getting into Fareham.

What it means for you

  • Nothing changes at the station yet. There is still no lift. If you need step-free access, check with South Western Railway before you travel; National Rail’s Swanwick station page lists the station’s current accessibility.
  • The decision to build is the government’s, after detailed design ends in 2027. No building date has been given.
  • The Hampshire work is separate and already has its budget. The report does not give dates for it.

For trains from Fareham borough to London, see our Fareham train times guide, and for current closures our roadworks and travel page.