Bournemouth to Southampton train

Trains from Bournemouth to Southampton

The train ride from Bournemouth to Southampton is a popular route due to the popularity of Southampton. There are a total of 25 trains from two companies that leave Bournemouth station en route to Southampton all of which are direct so there is no need to change trains or stop along the way. The average amount of time it takes to travel this distance is 46min but there are faster options that can have you arriving in 32min. On average there are 2-3 trains that leave for Southampton every hour.

Bournemouth to Southampton Train Time: Daily Departures

There are on average three trains leaving Bournemouth Station and arriving in Southampton every hour and they operate weekdays from Monday to Friday regularly between the hours of 6:01 a.m and 23:21 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday the trains operate slightly later from 6:42 a.m until 23:12 p.m and 7:33 a.m until 23:08 p.m. respectively. In total there are 25 direct trains between the two locations with most train departures being 40min apart. You should be aware that there may be schedule changes depending on public holidays and events.

How long is the trip by train from Bournemouth to Southampton?

The train ride from Bournemouth to Southampton will take an average of 46min to to cover the distance of 24 miles (39 km). The longest commute will take 1h 10min using the slowest trains and the fastest commute will have you in Southampton in 32min.

Southampton Town Quay Street. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Bournemouth to Southampton?

Departure train station: Situated 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from the centre of the city, Bournemouth Station is located on Holdenhurst Road which is a 17min shuttle drive to Bournemouth Bus Station and a 9min car drive to Bournemouth Airport. Facilities in Bournemouth Station include are as follows ticket booths, luggage trolley station, free public Wi-Fi, parking facilities, bathrooms as well as food and drink kiosks.

Arrival train station: Situated 2 miles (3.2 km) from the centre of the city, Southampton Central Station is located on Central Station Bridge Road which is a 6min walk to Southampton Bus Station and a 10min train drive or 12min car drive to Southampton Airport. Facilities in Southampton Central station include free public Wi-Fi, restaurants and coffee shops, bathrooms, a parking lot, trolley stations, a taxi rank and a waiting room.

Which train companies travel from Bournemouth to Southampton?

There are two railway companies that operate from Bournemouth to Southampton. The first is South Western Railway which offers the majority of the scheduled trains. The other company is Cross Country which only offers one train through this route however Cross country offers the fastest train to Southampton and can complete the journey in half the time that South Western Railways can.

South Western Railways trains from Bournemouth to Southampton

South Western Railways is the main operator on this line and offer two to three trains hourly at a low price for daily commuters who are not trying to get to Southampton as fast as possible. South Western Railways trains can make the trip to Southampton in about 40min to 1h 10min depending what train you depart on. Due to South Western Railways having most of the scheduled trains and their trains being slower the rates of their tickets are much lower due slower speeds and longer commutes.

Cross Country trains from Bournemouth to Southampton

Cross Country is the other option when travelling from Bournemouth to Southampton. Cross Country normally only has one scheduled train that operates daily, usually departing Bournemouth at 10:00 a.m. and arriving in Southampton within 32min. As this train is the fastest this too means that on most days this train ticket is the most expensive with it costing a few extra pounds more to buy a ticket. Although the time difference is not too extensive, if you had to do a daily commute or needed to be in Southampton faster than normal this option offers you the ability to shave a good 20min-30min off of your commute.

Train Bournemouth to Southampton: Services on Board

South Western Railway offers amenities such as food and drink catering to all passengers. Every passenger is allowed both large items of luggage that can be stored in the overhead compartment and an item of hand luggage which can be stored under the seat in front of you or by your feet. All South Western Railway trains allow you to bring up to two pets along with you on the train as long as they have a leash and are trained and well behaved, you may also travel on the train with your bicycle as long as the train has a compartment for storing your bicycle.

All of these extra amenities are free of charge for customers. Cross Country offers similar amenities as South Western Railways regarding baggage and services, pets are allowed on their trains as well as having two large baggage items and two carry-on bags. Their food and drink options are more advanced due to Cross country offering longer train rides. The company has accessibility for handicapped or disabled customers. Due to there only being one scheduled train daily the amenities will be much the same as their competitor.

How to find cheap train tickets from Bournemouth to Southampton?

When looking for the cheapest way to travel by train there are some things to look out for. you should always try to book your ticket in advance, booking your train ticket ahead of time will usually give you cheaper discounted prices. Another factor is if you are planning to travel on days where there could be events or public holidays, tickets may become booked up which will result in prices increasing so it would be best to look at the prices a few days before or after the date you intended to travel, to see if the prices change.

Lastly, Taking a route that has more stops can sometimes be cheaper, when a train is slower or has to stop often the train companies will often reduce the price to compensate the commuters for the delays. And finally one of your best friends when searching for the cheapest prices would be Omio which organises all prices to find you the cheapest and most convenient option for you.

Southampton Marina Oceane Village. Source: Shutterstock

To Southampton by train—travel tips

Southampton is full of diversity and offers more than enough attractions for all tourists. If you are an art enthusiast you should check out all the different art galleries in Southampton. Visit the ever-changing displays of internationally renowned Southampton City Art Gallery or enjoy a nice cup of tea whilst discussing the local art pieces at Art House Gallery.

For a lifetime experience you should visit the Mayflower Theatre. The theatre can hold up to 2 300 people and World renowned performances such as ballet, opera or musicals. Don't forget about the live music scene in Southampton. All bars and pubs will have different kinds of artists playing there and for sure there will be one that suits your taste. Even for history lovers, there is more than enough.

Make sure to pay the Silent Sky Museum a visit and find out what an influence Southampton had in aviation history. Or maybe you just want to grab a drink and chill out. Then why don't you do that in a Hobbit themed pub? Southampton has a wide variety of quirky themed pubs that are perfect for a drink after a long day in the city, to chat with like minded people. As you can see there is more than enough to do in Southampton and maybe you will discover more hidden or quirky places. So let's pack your bag and let's go.