Fears plan to reopen Totton to Hythe railway line has been 'shelved'

County councillor David Harrison has spent years promoting the case for passenger services on the Totton to Hythe line to be restored after more than half a century.

Last year Prime Minister Rishi Sunak scrapped plans to extend the HS2 high-speed rail link northwards from Birmingham.

Mr Sunak pledged that the £36bn saved by the decision would be spent on other transport projects across the country, including new stations and reopened railway lines.

Cllr David Harrison says he fears proposals to reopen the Totton to Hythe railway line have been shelved by the government (Image: Network Rail)

His remarks raised hopes that proposals to reopen the Totton-Hythe line would be given the green light.

But no announcement has been made, and the route was not mentioned in Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget speech on March 6.

READ MORE: Scrapping part of HS2 high-speed rail link 'means trains could come back Hythe'

Posting on social media, Cllr Harrison said: "It is beginning to look a bit like the government has shelved the plan for restoring the Waterside railway passenger service.

"I was disappointed there was no mention of this in the Budget.

Cllr David Harrison says he fears proposals to reopen the Totton to Hythe railway line have been shelved by the government (Image: Newsquest.)

"The leader of Hampshire County Council, Rob Humby, agreed to chase Network Rail for an update when I asked about it at the last county council meeting.

"The government has invested £7m in the project, looking at the business case and practical issues such as platform upgrades and impacts on crossings.

"The consultation exercise by Network Rail showed overwhelming public support for the project. Delays caused by constant roadworks have since persuaded doubters about the merits of a rail alternative."

READ MORE: Residents back proposal to reopen Totton to Hythe rail line

The Daily Echo contacted Network Rail, but was referred to the Department for Transport.

A DfT spokesperson said: "The Department is considering next steps on the Waterside scheme and will provide further details in due course."

The level crossing at Frost Lane is part of the Totton to Hythe branch line (Image: Newsquest.)

If the scheme goes ahead Marchwood station will reopen and a new transport hub will be built in Hythe.

The line, which originally extended as far south as Fawley, closed in 1966 and became a freight-only route serving industrial sites.

Network Rail's website says: "Reintroducing passenger services would strengthen and improve transport links to communities, support their growth, and provide a more sustainable mode of transport.

"In recent years Marchwood and Hythe have grown through residential and commercial developments.

"This has led to increasing congestion on local roads, particularly the A326, which links Fawley, Hythe, and Marchwood with the A35 road into Southampton. Regular passenger services could help alleviate this congestion."

In 2020 the then rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris said there was a "very strong case" for reopening the line.