Fratton Station is located in the city of Portsmouth, England. It is on the Portsmouth Direct Line which runs between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour.
It is the busiest station in Portsmouth. During the coronavirus pandemic usage increased to over 41m entries and exits. It has two platforms. Normally, platform 2 and 3 serve Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour respectively, with platform 1 serving all other destinations.
Facilities
Fratton station is close to Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth FC, and as such it gets a fair amount of use on match days. It is also on the Portsmouth Direct line from London Waterloo.
The station opened in 1885 and is located on Portsea Island. It is served by South West Trains services to Southampton Central, London Victoria, London Waterloo, Eastleigh, Basingstoke and Brighton.
There are three platforms and the station is currently being refurbished. In addition to the ticket office, there is a small cafe and public Wi-Fi. There are also 66 cycle spaces available at the station.
The main entrance to the station is on Selbourne Terrace. Opposite is the recently covered Milton End, which has all-seated seating. This is used by away fans and adds to the already lively atmosphere at matches, boosted by a drummer and bell ringer. The other stand is the more modern Fratton End, which was built in 1997 and features an outline resembling a former player.
Parking
Located in the heart of Portsmouth and next to Fratton Park for the football it is a busy station. There is a small car park and there are usually taxis in a rank outside the main building for easy transport once you get off the train. It is also convenient for The Bridge Centre and Asda. This station is a good changeover point if you are travelling with fans to and from Fratton Park for the football as most trains stop here before they go to Southsea/The Harbour.
Between 1885 and 1914, the station also had a separate island platform to the south of the main three platforms, which was used by the short-lived Southsea Railway branchline. This platform was reached by a staircase built on the south-east side of the main footbridge; it is now occupied by a modern train washing machine structure.
It can be a little tricky to park close by if you are visiting the football as the ground is in a residential / commercial / industrial area. The best option is to use the station car park and if this is full then try one of the nearby street parking (although be aware some are subject to local residents’ permits).
Taxis
Passengers can travel between the city centre and Fratton train station in four different ways: by bus, by train, with a taxi or on foot. The easiest way to get there is to take a taxi, which can be booked in advance or hailed in the city center. Alternatively, passengers can take the number one or two buses, departing from the City Shops South station. The number one goes right to the station, whereas the number two stops at Bradford Junction, which is only a few minutes’ walk away.
The train station is fully accessible for those with limited mobility, with step-free access and ramps to the platforms. It also has accessible ticket machines and wheelchairs to borrow. It is also a short walk from Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth FC.
Walking
One of the most popular attractions for football fans visiting Portsmouth is Fraton Park, home of the city’s football team. The stadium is a short walk from the station, and there are several options for transporting passengers to the game.
The home ground is easily accessible by train from London, with the journey taking around two hours on most services. Great Western Railway and South Western Railway run regular trains between the two locations, and tickets are usually cheaper when booked in advance.
The number one bus goes right to the station from Portsmouth & Southsea, while the number two stops at Bradford Junction. Those with luggage may want to take a taxi, which can be booked in advance or hailed from the street. Alternatively, the city’s tram system is also available to take passengers straight to Fraton Park from the city centre. The new tram line has a modern and stylish look, and is ideal for anyone looking to avoid the traffic.
