Place Farnborough Station code FNB DfT category C2 Number of platforms 2 | Grid reference SU868560 Managed by South West Trains 2011/12 3.021 million | |
 | ||
Address Farnborough, United Kingdom Similar Farnborough North railway st, Brookwood railway station, Woking railway station, Fleet railway station, Basingstoke railway station | ||
Farnborough (Main) railway station serves the town of Farnborough in Hampshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by South West Trains. It is one of two stations serving Farnborough: the other, Farnborough North, is situated on the North Downs Line. The station is mostly known as Farnborough (Main) in order to distinguish it from Farnborough North, including by National Rail and South West Trains, although often signposted as simply Farnborough.
Contents
The station is situated on the South Western Main Line, which has four tracks running through the station. There are two platforms on the outer pair of tracks, while the centre pair of tracks are used by fast trains.
History
Farnborough railway station was opened in 1838 by the London and South Western Railway (then the London and Southampton Railway), on the line from London to Winchfield (then Shapley Heath). The next year, the line was extended to Basingstoke, then the next year it was connected to Southampton. Throughout its life, Farnborough was a through station.
In 1849, South Eastern Railway built the North Downs Line, and opened a station also known as Farnborough, but it was not renamed as its existing name Farnborough North until 1923. The main line railway station was often known as Farnborough (Main) and this has become its official name. It is referred to as simply 'Farnborough' on platform and road signs, but National Rail and South West Trains officially use the suffix (though not on timetables). It was sometimes advertised as 'Farnborough for Aldershot' at an early stage.
As with Hook and Winchfield, there is a wide gap between the tracks. Originally, an island platform stood between them. When the railway was quadrupled, the existing up track became the down fast. The former up platform, an island which had a loop line running behind it was demolished with the loop line becoming the up fast. The new up slow line and a new platform for up services were built at this time (early 1900s).
One source suggests that it may have been used by Queen Victoria to get to Windsor Castle, though the main station she used for Windsor was Slough until Windsor got its own station.
In 2011, the forecourt underwent refurbishment to add two lifts to the platforms plus a new transport interchange complete with taxi rank, three new bus stops and a large bicycle shelter. In 2012, the station booking hall underwent an extensive refurbishment and the booking hall was modernised and enlarged as a result. Furthermore, a double level car park was built in the station during 2014, which has greatly increased car parking capacity at the station.
Accidents and incidents
Services
Station announcements
Currently, the voice of Phil Sayer and Celia Drummond is played at this station, used for automated station announcements.
Facilities
On site, there are three coffee shops, a waiting room on each platform, a ticket office, Self Service Ticket Machines, smartcard travel facilities, and cycle parking facilities.