Improved solent network

[infobleep]

The 1915 isn't a diversion of a Portsmouth train as such as before it was extended to Southampton last year it used to terminate at Havant.

OK. Even so it is a service from London to Southampton via Guildford.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[MarkyT]

If a south chord was constructed at Eastleigh, some services between Southampton and Portsmouth could be diverted via Botley. These could then stop at Southampton airport, and the slightly longer but faster route, with fewer stations, might offer a quicker trip. With this speed/stopping pattern segregation, fast trains such as the FGWs from Cardiff could overtake the stoppers, still running via Swanwick and capacity for more stoppers on the latter route would be created as well. It might become possible to create additional stations on this line with its new emphasis on local traffic alone, perhaps at Newtown and Lower Swanwick. Instead of a chord, the Botley trains might alternatively reverse at Eastleigh, with perhaps an additional platform on the down side to help accomodate them. Reversal and the additional stop would cost a little extra time though clearly. With more trains via Botley, the 5 mile single line section at the east end of the line could need shortening, which should be possible but it can't be eliminated entirely due to the poor clearance in the tunnel at Fareham.

In Fareham the station might be moved to the A27/A32 roundabout, or an additional one created there, much closer to the primary commercial part of town and the bus station than the existing site. The westbound road flyover across the roundabout might have to be removed to make space. Perhaps its structure could be partly reused to support a new eastbound platform alongside the railway viaduct.

 

[Drsatan]

To increase service flexibility in times of disruption, and to allow eastbound or westbound services to be overtaken, I would investigate converting the current bay platform (platform 2) into a through road, although this would require strengthening the bridge spanning the A27. This would allow numerous possibilities, such as allowing late running services to be overtaken (currently, the 1623 PHM - CDF often arrives at Southampton Central a few minutes late since it closely follows the ex VIC service arriving at 1704), and allowing for westbound trains to terminate at Fareham.

There would even be space to build an extra through road on the land adjacent to platform 3 if necessary.

 

[Matt Taylor]

There is no room to create a southern chord at Eastleigh without running it right through the works complex, the residential area, the diesel depot and part of the airport. I just cannot see it happening.

 

[NSEFAN]

There is no room to create a southern chord at Eastleigh without running it right through the works complex, the residential area, the diesel depot and part of the airport. I just cannot see it happening.

Why not just reverse at Eastleigh? If done properly it would only add about 5 minutes compared to a dedicated chord.

 

[swt_passenger]

Why not just reverse at Eastleigh? If done properly it would only add about 5 minutes compared to a dedicated chord.

The problem isn't just the chord, or reversal in the platform, or the proposed additional platform, that is non-conflicting for Southampton bound moves.

The conflicting movements in the up direction (i.e. from Southampton towards Fareham via Eastleigh) are the more significant problem. This was one of the reasons that prevented the intended Southern Brighton service running west bound via Eastleigh every hour. Overcoming that conflict is not going to be easy, whatever they did...

 

[Muzer]

Mentioning Solent link I would bet not many of these are around.

That is the best thing ever. I don't even know what Solent Link was (I was probably not alive at the time, or if I was I wasn't living near Portsmouth - and a very quick Google reveals nothing), but that duck thing is so cute!

 

[MarkyT]

There is no room to create a southern chord at Eastleigh without running it right through the works complex, the residential area, the diesel depot and part of the airport. I just cannot see it happening.

I believe there IS space, as illustrated in my sketch here:

http://www.townend.me/files/eastleighsouthchord.pdf

Not saying it would be cheap though! A shallow tunnel just beyond the end of Exeter Airport's runway was created recently for the Clyst Honiton Bypass, the total cost of which was £9 million for 800m of single carriageway road, the tunnel and junction work - see here:

http://www.devonnewscentre.info/vital-bypass-now-open/

The extra track and platfrom I show through Southampton Airport Parkway station effectively provides a 'centre turn lane' for trains turning right to Portsmouth, enabling the conflict with down trains from Eastleigh to be managed better.

 

[swt_passenger]

Solent link was the name given to the electrification project from the Farlington triangle to St Denys and Eastleigh. There's a ginormous plaque on the platform 3 wall at Fareham all about it:

http://www.networksoutheast.net/nse-survivors3.html

 

[infobleep]

The problem isn't just the chord, or reversal in the platform, or the proposed additional platform, that is non-conflicting for Southampton bound moves.

The conflicting movements in the up direction (i.e. from Southampton towards Fareham via Eastleigh) are the more significant problem. This was one of the reasons that prevented the intended Southern Brighton service running west bound via Eastleigh every hour. Overcoming that conflict is not going to be easy, whatever they did...

Can't they just hold the trains at a Junction until a path is free? That will delay them but I travel on trains semi regularly that are timetabled to be held at junctions and outside platforms.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[swt_passenger]

'Holding at a junction' is exactly what they do with trains heading towards Fareham on the four track section between Northam Jn and St Denys. Up main line trains regularly overtake on the left, by using the up loop, for example after leaving Southampton the xx15 XC often passes the xx13 SN just south of St Denys.

The same track layout doesn't exist at Eastleigh though.

 

[infobleep]

They regularly hold train station at the junction at Havant and that is only 2 lines. They hold trains at Woking and the Lines from Guildford are only 2.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Carlisle]

Even if the signalling over the Fareham - St Denys section was upgraded with three aspect signals and shorter sections, there is still the issue of capacity into and out of Southampton Central.

If the capacity existed I'd reopen the Fareham - Gosport line and run each hour: -

1 x Portsmouth - Southampton (all stations)
1 x Portsmouth - Reading (via Eastleigh)
1 x Gosport - Waterloo (via Eastleigh)
1 x Gosport - Southampton (all stations)

I think there is virtually zero chance of the Gosport line ever being reopened as a heavy rail line seeing as some bridges have recently been removed and much is now tarmaced over for use as the BRT busway ,however I think it should not be impossible to convert it to a tramway similar to what's been planned previously should the cash and willpower one day exist , the main advantage of the tram at least initially was the tunnel under the harbour , a once or twice hourly conventional train from Gosport would have little advantage over a very frequent existing bus service for the costs involved

 

[swt_passenger]

They regularly hold train station at the junction at Havant and that is only 2 lines. They hold trains at Woking and the Lines from Guildford are only 2.

But you're not describing the same issue. The specific situation that is being discussed at Eastleigh is a train on the up line from the Airport having to wait on the up line for space to cross over to the down line, thence holding up other trains behind it, so that it can then reverse in a platform and travel in the down direction.

The equivalent at Woking would be a train travelling from say Farnborough towards Guildford. Or at Havant it would be a train from Chichester towards Petersfield. In neither case does such a move ever occur in timetabled service...