IT'S one of the biggest complaints from people who regularly use our railways

Now passengers at Southampton Central station can at least wait for their train in comfort. A new waiting room on the London Waterloo-bound platform has been opened as part of an upgrade.

Adrian Vinson, leader of Southampton City Council, unveiled a plaque in the new waiting room, which is part of a £300,000 refurbishment of the station.

He said: "The Central Station is one of the key gateways to the city and the one in most need of improvement. This project is excellent news and I am glad the City Council is assisting as it will help to improve the initial impression that many visitors to Southampton receive."

The new waiting room will provide weary commuters with a pleasant place to sit and await their trains.

It is heated and has new seating, customer information screens andCCTV. Refurbished toilets and a revamped forecourt were also part of the redevelopment, which was funded by the city council, Network Rail and South West Trains.

Station manager Mike Thompson said: "Southampton has been unable to offer anything like this before.

"To have a large waiting space under cover, which is warmer, with new toilets is a big plus."

Andrew Haines, managing director of South West Trains, said some people may wonder where the £300,000 had gone.

"These facilities look like small things but they can make a significant difference," he said.

Southampton Central station was pinpointed as being in need of a major revamp in the council's City Centre Vision document, which was drawn up by design experts.