Brockenhurst, in the heart of the New Forest in Hampshire, is to benefit from hourly services to Reading and onwards to Newcastle via Birmingham from the start of the new timetable on Sunday, 17th May.

Train operator CrossCountry is introducing the extra stops at Brockenhurst in response to customer demand, with the Brockenhurst stops being offset by some trains having fewer station stops between there and Reading.

The new timetable will also see extra CrossCountry services between Reading, Birmingham, York, and Newcastle, and more direct services between Reading and the North East and Yorkshire without the need to travel via London.

As well as the extra services to Brockenhurst, passengers on CrossCountry’s long-distance and inter-regional fleets will benefit from an ongoing update of the trains to provide improved seating, more storage, and more charging facilities throughout the trains.

Anyone planning to travel after the start of the new timetable on Sunday, 17th May, should check their journey plans, either with their train operator or through National Rail Enquiries.

Victoria Mander, New Forest National Park Authority Chair, commented that the new services are a welcome investment, offering more convenient travel choices for both residents and visitors travelling to and within the New Forest. And by strengthening connections, they boost sustainable travel, reduce impacts on the National Park and improve access to jobs, skills and business opportunities across the region.”

“I’m delighted that our May 2026 timetable is boosting daily services to Brockenhurst, recognising the popularity of the New Forest and the importance of more sustainable UK tourism. More widely, the timetable allows us to better match supply with demand, provide more services on our key long-distance corridors and restore much-valued regional connectivity. We’ve made these changes based on clear customer needs and strong stakeholder feedback from across the country. We will continue to review our services to provide reliable journeys for the communities we serve.”

Shiona Rolfe, Managing Director, CrossCountry