South Western Railway unveils ‘platform hoover’ trains to tackle ‘extreme’ Waterloo overcrowding
The new train fleet set to make your journey much easier
- South Western Railway (SWR) is deploying new 'Arterio' trains to alleviate severe overcrowding on services to London Waterloo.
- Eight additional Arterio trains have been launched in the past two months, bringing the total in operation to 14 across over 160 weekday services.
- Labour MP Fleur Anderson campaigned on the issue, highlighting 'extreme overcrowding' on lines approaching Waterloo, particularly in areas like Wandsworth Town.
- The new trains, described as 'platform hoovers', are designed to carry over 50 per cent more passengers and offer modern amenities like Wi-Fi and charging points.
- The full rollout of the £1 billion Arterio fleet was significantly delayed, with the first trains only carrying passengers in January 2024, reportedly due to driver training issues.