THOUSANDS of Hampshire rail passengers will benefit from improved information screens as part of a major investment scheme.

New technology has been introduced at Southampton Central, Southampton Airport Parkway and Eastleigh, providing “next fastest train” data and more detailed train time information.

Rather than advertising trains in the traditional format with scheduled and expected times, screens will now provide the information in a “countdown” style, showing the number of minutes until the next train.

Passengers will also be able to check on the fastest way of getting to a destination in the South West Trains network.

The company has installed 170 new screens at stations across its network in a scheme which has cost £1m.