THE AGE of the train returns to Chandler's Ford tomorrow - 34 years after the last passenger train pulled out of the suburban station.

In the late 60s it fell victim to the Beeching cuts but the railway line stayed in place for freight traffic.

Now it is ready for a new generation of rail travellers and it's hoped that the train will take the strain away from heavily congested commuter roads.

Hampshire County Council, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) South West Trains (SWT) and Network Rail have joined forces to develop the rail link and station building in Station Lane.

It will be an emotional moment when SWT's new Romsey to Totton service pulls into Chandler's Ford on Sunday morning.

Boarding the train at 9am will be the chairman of Eastleigh Council's Chandler's Ford Local Area Committee and former mayor Councillor Godfrey Olson along with fellow councillors.

Among them will be borough and county councillor for Chandler's Ford Colin Davidovitz who said: "Chandler's Ford railway station was a victim of Lord Beeching's cuts in 1969.

"Happily, the railway line has stayed in place since then for freight services.

"I am very pleased to see it opening again. If people get into the habit of using it, as I think they will, then it will greatly relieve the congestion on local roads and give people along its route easy access to the entire UK rail network."

Work on the station building is on track and should be completed in September.

As well as a staffed ticket office, the development includes a new platform, 50-space car park, parking for 40 bicycles, a footbridge between Hursley Road and the station building, toilets and real time passenger information. Closed-circuit television will cover the entire site.

The county council has put £2m into building the station and SRA has provided £3.34m over three years through its Rail Passenger Partnership scheme to cover the costs of running the station and service.

The timetable will run hourly and call at Romsey, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, Southampton Airport (Parkway), Swaythling, St Denys, Southampton Central, Millbrook, Redbridge and Totton.

The last service to call at Chandler's Ford railway station was the 21.30 from Portsmouth to Romsey on May 3, 1969.

Now it is full steam ahead again for Chandler's Ford rail travellers.