WINCHESTER commuters have hailed plans to man the city’s railway station late into the evening a success.

Security staff will now stay on site until 11pm following pressures from passengers to do more to keep the travellers safe.

There were several concerns raised, particularly by women travelling on their own.

Now the platforms will see more staff members wearing high-viz jackets working until 11pm, something regular commuter Joanna Lewis said has been a long time coming.

“We pay enough for our tickets so a full service should last late into the evening,” she said.

“It's not just about having help if something goes wrong with your ticket, or onward transport.

"It's much more about feeling confident to travel later a night and to feel safe especially as you leave the station.

“Almost everyone I know who commutes has a story about being approached by strangers once or twice.

"It's not just women commuters who have felt threatened leaving the train. Lots of single-travellers returning home late including men, also teenagers and the elderly, have said the same.

“There's still a way to go,” she added.

“The lane from the station car park onto the Andover Road is still very unsafe at night for people on foot and for cyclists and, as the station gets busier and busier, I would hope that it will be manned beyond 11pm.

"Even with this welcome extension, if you leave Waterloo after the 9.35pm train then no staff will be around when you arrive at Winchester.”

Winchester and Chandler’s Ford MP Steve Brine, who has petitioned for this change since his Ask South West Trains meeting in November 2013, said: “This was a key point raised at my ASKSWT public meeting as passengers arriving back into the station late at night, especially women, said they felt vulnerable and wanted to see a much later staffing presence.

“I know it’s not been easy for South West Trains to achieve this, particularly in a time of incredibly tight budgets, but it’s really pleasing they have found a way."