HAMPSHIRE County Council leader Ken Thornber has praised the efforts of those involved in saving the Chandler's Ford commuter rail service.

The future of trains running to Southampton from the station were under threat in draft timetable proposals, which would have seen the service end at Eastleigh.

The county council, together with Eastleigh and Southampton councils, local MPs and Hampshire businesses, put forward their argument against the move to the Department for Transport - DfT - following a huge public outcry.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, the DfT has issued the invitation to tender for the South Western rail franchise, which is currently operated by South West Trains.

As part of the conditions for bidding, companies have to include provisions for a new service from Salisbury to Southampton.

This new service pattern will act as a "figure of six" as trains travel from Salisbury to Romsey, to Southampton Central, Southampton Airport Parkway, Eastleigh, Chandler's Ford and ending back at Romsey.

Trains will then reverse the journey which will reconnect Chandler's Ford train routes to Salisbury for the first time since the new station was opened in 2003.

This journey will also incorporate commuter stops at the rural Dean and Dunbridge stations under threat from timetable cuts proposed by First Great Western as part of the new Greater Western franchise. Councillor Thornber said the county council and other authorities made a compelling case in keeping the service.

"The minister has listened to the convincing arguments we presented for retention of through train services from Chandler's Ford, and has come up with an imaginative solution which will enable the service to play its full part in the continuing economic development of south Hampshire," he added.

The successful bidder of the franchise will be announced in the autumn and will take over operations from February.