Southern England Railways

South Western Railway, Southern, Southeastern and GWR work alongside CrossCountry on a dense network reaching Brighton, Bournemouth, Salisbury, Exeter and Penzance. The Great Western Main Line west of Reading is the spiritual home of GWR's Class 800 IETs and the famous high-speed runs to the West Country.

Heritage attractions abound — the Bluebell Railway, Mid-Hants Watercress Line, and Swanage Railway preserve mainline steam in Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset, while the Talyllyn Railway helped found the global railway preservation movement.