Nokes pushes for rail and port upgrades as transport gripes mount

Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes has escalated pressure on South Western Railway this week, demanding immediate action on service reliability and overcrowding after months of passenger complaints. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Nokes told transport secretary Louise Haigh that punctuality and carriage shortages had reached crisis levels, with commuters routinely stranded at stations across Hampshire. "My constituents want trains that run on time more than they want new timetables," Nokes said. "We cannot keep papering over cracks while the foundations crumble."

The MP’s intervention comes as SWR faces a fresh wave of cancellations following the introduction of a revised timetable in May, which passengers claim has worsened rather than improved their daily commute. Internal documents seen by this newspaper reveal SWR planned to reduce the number of carriages on peak services from October, a move Nokes branded "economic vandalism" during Wednesday’s meeting with company bosses.

While rail passengers endure what one commuter called "a third-world service in a first-world country," Nokes also turned attention to the Port of Southampton’s rapid expansion. DP World confirmed the arrival of two new electric cranes this month, part of a £250 million investment to boost container handling capacity. The cranes—capable of moving 65 containers per hour—will reduce turnaround times for vessels including CMA CGM’s new 24,000-TEU mega-ships. "This is tangible progress," Nokes said after meeting port executives. "But without matching investment in shore-side power, we risk trading one environmental problem for another."

The port’s progress on decarbonisation is real but uneven. Since 2013, emissions from dock operations have fallen 3.2%, driven by cleaner fuels and energy efficiency programs. Yet full electrification remains stalled due to grid capacity constraints in the Wessex region, where demand from new housing and data centres is outpacing supply. The issue flared into public debate last month when the Emissions Trading Scheme raised costs for shipping lines, prompting warnings from the British Ports Association that some terminals could become uncompetitive without state support.

Nokes, who chairs the Women and Equalities Select Committee, used Wednesday’s session to press SWR on accessibility too. Wheelchair users report persistent gaps between platform heights and train floors on newer rolling stock, despite accessibility regulations. SWR has pledged to resolve the issue by 2027, but campaigners say that is too slow. "We’re not asking for perfection," said one advocate. "We’re asking for parity."

Electric vehicle charging also featured in Nokes’ agenda this week. She met the Electric Vehicle Association to discuss the lack of affordable public charging in rural Hampshire. While urban areas like Southampton city centre have seen rapid rollout, villages like Chilworth and North Baddesley rely on just one or two slow chargers. "We cannot electrify transport without equitable access," Nokes said. "Otherwise, we’re just shifting the burden from petrol pumps to parking bays.""

1. Immediate — SWR must restore 72% punctuality within six months or face regulatory intervention
2. Medium-term — National Grid must accelerate grid upgrades in Wessex to unlock port and rail electrification
3. Long-term — Government must fund a rural EV charging network with at least 200 hubs across Hampshire by 2027

The MP’s transport push comes amid broader public frustration. A recent YouGov poll found 68% of Hampshire residents believe local transport is getting worse, with rail and road networks singled out as the top concerns. Nokes, whose Romsey and Southampton North constituency includes both dense urban areas and rural commuter villages, has positioned herself as a vocal advocate for integrated transport policy. "Good transport isn’t a luxury—it’s the backbone of our economy," she told the House. "And right now, it’s broken."