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.
Building Fratton: From Rural Hamlet to Rail Hub
Fratton began as a small settlement known as “Froddington” (“Frodda’s village”) in the Domesday Book. It remained largely rural until the late 19th century, when Portsmouth’s expansion brought housing and infrastructure into the area
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.
On the Rails: Opening and Evolution
Fratton Station officially opened on 1 July 1885, designed to link the main line (London, Brighton and South Coast Railway) with the newly built Southsea Railway branch and serve as an interchange It even briefly adopted the name Fratton & Southsea in 1905 to boost the branch line’s profile before reverting to Fratton in 1921
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 Fratton 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.
