Mid Hants Railway - bye bye to a dream

[Domeyhead]

Planning approval granted for new houses in the cutting to the west of the current railhead in Alresford means that the railway can never extend.
Everyone knows that the M3 was a massive obstacle to any plan to relay the remaining 6 miles to Winchester Junction, and developments at Itchen Abbas meant a diversion would be required into Farm fields but these were theoretically solvable problems (all you needs is a Euomillions rollover winner who happens to be a Mid Hants fanatic! )
However the loss of the cutting is the loss of the only route to open country - there is no diversion option.
The Itchen Valley portion of the line was beautiful addition to the chalk hills further up the line - this is a sad day for sentimentality if not for reality.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8247806.Approval_for_23_new_houses/

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

It would have never been able to be restored anyway there's a gaping chasm between where it used to join the Bournemouth mainline at King's Worthy & Martyr Worthy, a gap that's probably ⅓ of a mile across.

So I wouldn't cry about it too much.

 

[Greenback]

Although I agree that the line should never have been closed, it is no less likely to be reinstated after planning permission has been granted than it was before.

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

You obviously don't know the area! If you saw the gap, then you'd know that unless they came up with around £90m, they'll be going nowhere.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It's odd, because Google Earth doesn't see a "gap".

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

I won't because it's a satellite view!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I won't because it's a satellite view!

So where is this gap then - if it can't be seen from the air?

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

Try taking a trip on a train to Winchester, you'll see it! It was quite visible last time I went past it in the winter of last year.

Besides even if it were reinstated, do you think they're going to get access to a mainline which has a train on it every 10 mins, excluding freight moves? Personally I think it would be pointless.

 

[thefab444]

You seem very knowledgeable about this area Exmoor! However, I agree with you that extension into Winchester would not only be impossible but also rather pointless. It might've been interesting had the line been reopened at least as far as Itchen Abbas or a new station at Kings Worthy back in the late 70s though.

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

I used to live & work in the Southampton area. I was based there for about 2 months, but moved on rather quickly. I didn't get on with certain "elements" of society, which is a shame as I rather like Hampshire.

 

[Domeyhead]

Exmoor I think you are looking at the former DN&S railway and not the formation of the Mid Hants, which still curves its way into SpringVale, albeit heavily overgrown flytipped and with the odd minor incursion. I travel the line most days and there is not gap - visible from the train or otherwise. The main impediments to the line are the M3, and a close of new houses around the old Itchen Abbas station, whose residents would clearly fight any reinstatement.
Having said all that, your observations regarding the mainline and the probability of success are correct. The only faint possibility of interest from Network Rail or the TOCs would be the creation of a new station at SpringVale for commuting to Winchester Eastleigh and Southampton.

 

[Greenback]

I don't know the are well, I don;t know about any gap, but there was no chance of the line reopening before, and there's no chance now!

So the planning permission thing hasn;t made any difference at all!

 

[Bittern]

Besides even if it were reinstated, do you think they're going to get access to a mainline which has a train on it every 10 mins, excluding freight moves? Personally I think it would be pointless.

The Bo'ness line's connected to the Edinburgh - Glasgow main line which sees far more trains than that!

 

[paul1609]

i think that there are already several houses built over the line in the Wesley Rd Area of Kings Worthy.

 

[Train wasp]

Domeyhead you are correct. There is no missing gap at Winchester junction. The line is now used by local residents has a bridleway from Springvale to the A33 bridge at Kings Worthy.

 

[Chris125]

The Bo'ness line's connected to the Edinburgh - Glasgow main line which sees far more trains than that!

I dont think anyone is saying it couldnt be physically connected, but that there isnt enough spare capacity for it to be used by a regular service.

Chris