Southampton to Portsmouth trains: times, stops and fares

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Southampton and Portsmouth are the two big cities of the south coast, around twenty miles apart, and the train links them directly in about an hour. It is a frequent, easy run, so you rarely wait long for the next one.

Here is the route, the stations it calls at, how often the trains go, the first and last of the day, and how to sort your ticket. For the wider picture of reaching the city by rail, see our guide to getting to Portsmouth by train.

The line in brief

Where the line runs

The line runs west to east along the coast, from Southampton round the top of Portsmouth Harbour through Fareham and Cosham and down into Portsmouth. The map traces the way.

The stations along the way

Leaving Portsmouth Harbour, the all-stations train calls in this order on the way to Southampton Central.

Faster trains, including the Great Western service that carries on to Cardiff, skip many of the smaller stops and do the trip more quickly, so check that your train calls where you need it.

When the trains run

Trains run three to four an hour on a weekday, so you rarely wait long. The first and last from Portsmouth Harbour are shown below.

The very earliest and latest weekday trains change at Fratton. The trip itself takes about an hour, so your arrival works out roughly like this.

These examples show the pattern and are not fixed departures. Engineering work can change the early, late and weekend trains, so check the live board on the National Rail site or in the operator’s app for the exact times on your day.

What a ticket costs

There is no need to book ahead for a short hop like this, but the ticket types still shape the price:

• Advance single, tied to one train, the cheapest if you book ahead;
• Off-Peak, flexible outside the busy times and fine for a turn-up-and-go trip;
• Anytime, valid on any train and the dearest;
• a railcard, which takes roughly a third off most fares.

Great Western and Southern trains share the fares with South Western Railway on this route, so a walk-up ticket is usually valid on whichever train comes first. The exact price moves with the date, so check the live fare rather than a fixed figure.

Where and how to buy

You can buy a Southampton to Portsmouth ticket:

• online or in the app from National Rail or South Western Railway;
• at a ticket machine at either station;
• at the ticket office at Portsmouth Harbour or Southampton Central.

To keep it simple:

1. pick your train, and book an Advance single ahead if you want the lowest fare;
2. add a railcard if you have one;
3. take an e-ticket to your phone or collect it from the machine;
4. buy before you board, as contactless does not cover this route.

With the ticket sorted, the journey itself is a simple one for most trains, so you can settle in for the hour across to the coast.

Things worth knowing

How long does the train take from Southampton to Portsmouth?

About an hour on a direct service, a little longer on the all-stations train that calls everywhere.

How often do the trains run?

Three to four an hour on weekdays and about three on Sundays, so you rarely wait long.

Is it a direct train?

Yes, most are direct, though the very first and last of the day can change at Fratton.

Which Portsmouth station should I use?

Any of Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth and Southsea or Fratton. See our guide to Portsmouth’s train stations for which one suits you.

Portsmouth And put this guide together from South Western Railway and National Rail timetable information. Last updated: November 2026. Check live times and fares before you travel.