Move to reopen former rail line (From Daily Echo)
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Move to reopen former rail line between Hythe and Totton
2:40pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News
Move to reopen former rail line
IT WAS closed more than 40 years ago as part of the biggest cut in train services the country has ever seen.
But now new moves to reopen a Hampshire rail route that was axed have taken a major step forward.
Hampshire County Council has agreed to fund a study into reintroducing passenger trains on the Totton to Hythe branch line.
It was closed in 1966 as a result of the controversial Beeching cuts.
Experts have already established a business case for reopening the single-track line, currently used by freight trains serving Fawley oil refinery.
The viability study will look into what work is needed to restore passenger services.
It will also assess the likely level of demand and pinpoint possible sources of funding for the £3m project.
The plan was put forward three years ago as part of a £73m scheme to improve rail links across the New Forest.
A report published by the Association of Train Operating Companies said the Brockenhurst to Ringwood line should also be restored.
But that proposal, which would mean re-laying the track and building a new station in Ringwood, has since been shunted into the sidings.
Re-opening the Totton to Hythe line would ease the pressure on the A326 and other traffic- choked roads in the Waterside area.
Councillor Mel Kendal, the county council’s executive member for environment and transport, said constructive talks had already taken place with Network Rail and South West Trains.
He added: “The outcome of the earlier study has enabled us to develop a business case for the development of the Waterside line.
“However, there’s still a great deal of technical work to be done and detail to be worked through so we’re still some years away from opening the line to passengers. Nonetheless what we have established so far is encouraging.”
Supporters of the project include county councillor David Harrison, who represents Marchwood and Totton South.
He said: “A passenger railway line linking Southampton with Totton, Marchwood and Hythe would be terrific and I’m sure very popular.
My one big reservation is the potential impact on the train gates in Junction Road, Totton.”
Cllr Harrison said the busy level crossing was already closed to traffic for a total of 20 minutes every hour.
Comments(24)
Zeo
says...
3:24pm Fri 10 Feb 12
The level crossing issue, if done correctly you could build a bridge from Asda/Maynard Road Roadabout, at an angle, using the some what empty Network Rail Sidings and then bring it down on the other side of junction road, followed by reopening the junction of Com Rd and Junction Rd which would become a dead end road.
End of the day most of the traffic comes from the waterfront and so reopening the railway line might even reduce the traffic in the Totton area and reduction in buses is well, only thinking out loud!
westendsaint
says...
3:27pm Fri 10 Feb 12
................
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Southampton to get Ice Rink.
Yes we've heard that before as well !
espanuel
says...
3:42pm Fri 10 Feb 12
hulla baloo
says...
3:46pm Fri 10 Feb 12
espanuel wrote:Has Ringwood moved? I thought it was still in Hampshire.
The Hythe to Southampton line has never been closed it is used everyday by Exxonmobile for tanker trains. Before any one jumps it does say Totton to Hythe line + Ringwood which is in Dorset and has nothing to do with Hampshire.
Beer Monster
says...
3:50pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Somehow I doubt anything will be done until ABP are finally granted permission to build their Dibden Bay project, and the surrounding periphanlia can be planned in unison.
Goldenwight
says...
3:57pm Fri 10 Feb 12
hulla baloo wrote:It is (just), but like most people I often confuse it with Verwood which IS in Dorset.
espanuel wrote: The Hythe to Southampton line has never been closed it is used everyday by Exxonmobile for tanker trains. Before any one jumps it does say Totton to Hythe line + Ringwood which is in Dorset and has nothing to do with Hampshire.Has Ringwood moved? I thought it was still in Hampshire.
espanuel
says...
4:01pm Fri 10 Feb 12
legod7
says...
4:17pm Fri 10 Feb 12
As a Totton resident I wonder how much this "study " is going to cost me
Boatman
says...
5:12pm Fri 10 Feb 12
A new station would have to be built at Hythe even then the line is a long way away from the population centre of gravity.
The level crossing gates at Marchwood will either have to be automated and signals/points controlled from Eastleigh or a second/third keeper employed to cover the requires hours.
It will compete with bus services which off-peak are under utilized - bus pass holders are unlikely to use a train.
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
5:38pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
5:42pm Fri 10 Feb 12
IronLady2010
says...
6:04pm Fri 10 Feb 12
If I remember right Hythe Ferry were complaining of lack of customers as it is?
forest hump
says...
6:05pm Fri 10 Feb 12
EarlyRiser
says...
7:35pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Zeo wrote:Best thing they could do would be to move the station to the old coal yard area. Plenty of room currently wasted
That's brilliant news to hear.
The level crossing issue, if done correctly you could build a bridge from Asda/Maynard Road Roadabout, at an angle, using the some what empty Network Rail Sidings and then bring it down on the other side of junction road, followed by reopening the junction of Com Rd and Junction Rd which would become a dead end road.
End of the day most of the traffic comes from the waterfront and so reopening the railway line might even reduce the traffic in the Totton area and reduction in buses is well, only thinking out loud!
Brusher Mills
says...
8:49pm Fri 10 Feb 12
espanuel wrote:First Dorest takes Christchurch and Bournemouth and now they have taken Ringwood. What nest Berkshire takes Basingstoke and West Sussex taking Portsmouth.
The Hythe to Southampton line has never been closed it is used everyday by Exxonmobile for tanker trains. Before any one jumps it does say Totton to Hythe line + Ringwood which is in Dorset and has nothing to do with Hampshire.
arthur boutfaith
says...
11:02pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Zeo wrote:Stop all this thinking out loud business, it's no good and will lead to ruination.
That's brilliant news to hear.
The level crossing issue, if done correctly you could build a bridge from Asda/Maynard Road Roadabout, at an angle, using the some what empty Network Rail Sidings and then bring it down on the other side of junction road, followed by reopening the junction of Com Rd and Junction Rd which would become a dead end road.
End of the day most of the traffic comes from the waterfront and so reopening the railway line might even reduce the traffic in the Totton area and reduction in buses is well, only thinking out loud!
Twitter is the place for you and people of your ilk.
That's where to go to think / mumble out loud.
Be off with you.
Anyone for an ice rink?
Zeo
says...
9:01am Sat 11 Feb 12
arthur boutfaith wrote:How about you stop ruining the comment board with all this silly talk of an ice rink, this is about alternative transport and removing road traffic, with out it people may not be able to get to an ice rink, if one is ever built. *cough*neverwillhapp
Zeo wrote:Stop all this thinking out loud business, it's no good and will lead to ruination.
That's brilliant news to hear.
The level crossing issue, if done correctly you could build a bridge from Asda/Maynard Road Roadabout, at an angle, using the some what empty Network Rail Sidings and then bring it down on the other side of junction road, followed by reopening the junction of Com Rd and Junction Rd which would become a dead end road.
End of the day most of the traffic comes from the waterfront and so reopening the railway line might even reduce the traffic in the Totton area and reduction in buses is well, only thinking out loud!
Twitter is the place for you and people of your ilk.
That's where to go to think / mumble out loud.
Be off with you.
Anyone for an ice rink?
en*cough*...
Condor Man
says...
9:03am Sat 11 Feb 12
Zeo
says...
9:06am Sat 11 Feb 12
EarlyRiser wrote:Good plan, plenty of room for cars, bigger station, but doesn't solve the Junction Road Level Crossing...
Zeo wrote:Best thing they could do would be to move the station to the old coal yard area. Plenty of room currently wasted
That's brilliant news to hear.
The level crossing issue, if done correctly you could build a bridge from Asda/Maynard Road Roadabout, at an angle, using the some what empty Network Rail Sidings and then bring it down on the other side of junction road, followed by reopening the junction of Com Rd and Junction Rd which would become a dead end road.
End of the day most of the traffic comes from the waterfront and so reopening the railway line might even reduce the traffic in the Totton area and reduction in buses is well, only thinking out loud!
Linesman
says...
10:30am Sat 11 Feb 12
espanuel wrote:When did Ringwood get transferred to Dorset?
The Hythe to Southampton line has never been closed it is used everyday by Exxonmobile for tanker trains. Before any one jumps it does say Totton to Hythe line + Ringwood which is in Dorset and has nothing to do with Hampshire.
freefinker
says...
11:19am Sat 11 Feb 12
Linesman wrote:.. since 3:42pm Fri 10 Feb 12, apparently
espanuel wrote:When did Ringwood get transferred to Dorset?
The Hythe to Southampton line has never been closed it is used everyday by Exxonmobile for tanker trains. Before any one jumps it does say Totton to Hythe line + Ringwood which is in Dorset and has nothing to do with Hampshire.
Brusher Mills
says...
8:21pm Sat 11 Feb 12
westendsaint
says...
10:21pm Sat 11 Feb 12
Some-one finally buying Portsmouth FC.
Andy Locks Heath says...
3:03pm Fri 10 Feb 12
The ATOC study referred to in the article is just a rehash of a previous Network Rail study looking at closed routes that had not been severed which could in theory be relaid. Brockenhurst to Ringwood makes no commercial sense at all; however if the fools in the BR Property Board and their political masters in the seventies had kept the route from Ringwood westwards to Poole via Wimborne Ferndown Broadstone and Canford intact that would have been a valuable artery for north Bournemouth, now totally wasted and impossible to reopen.