RAIL passengers that use either Petersfield, Liss, Liphook, or Rowlands Castle stations to travel to London will enjoy more space, more services and faster journeys.

For seven years from August 20 the South Western rail network, including the Portsmouth to London Waterloo line, will be operated by First MTR South Western Trains.

Once the handover from the networks former operator, Stagecoach, is complete, a £1.2 billion investment will begin to improve journeys for passengers.

On the Portsmouth to Waterloo journey times will be reduced, stations along the line improved, better and newer trains will be used, and there will be more early and late services.

This will include 22,000 extra seats into London Waterloo each morning peak and 30,000 extra seats out of Waterloo each evening peak.

There will also be more Sunday services, with routes such as the Portsmouth to Waterloos line, having the equivalent of a Saturday service after 1pm.

FirstGroup Chief Executive Tim O’Toole said: “We are delighted that our partnership with MTR has been selected to run the South Western rail franchise, a key part of the country’s railway network which millions of people rely on every day.

“We are determined to transform the way that the railways work to deliver a revolution in services for passengers.

“Passengers can look forward to new and better trains, more seats and services, quicker journey times, improved stations and more flexible fare options.”

This will mark a new era of working between train operators like First MTR and Network Rail, who manage, maintain and overhaul stations, bridges, rail lines and other rail infrastructure.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “The new franchise will see closer partnership working between track and train, and First MTR South Western Trains expects to work even closer with Network Rail, with the shared aim of giving passengers exactly that.

“It will be a railway predominantly run by an integrated local team of people with a commitment to the smooth operation of their routes, improving services and performance.

“This will deliver the improvements right across the South Western area, from Portsmouth and Southampton, to Reading, Windsor and London.”