Study launched into reopening Ampress Halt on the Lymington Branch Line

[PTR 444]

Study launched into reopening long-shut Lymington railway station

COUNCILLORS have voted for an investigation into reopening a long-shut railway station in Lymington amid “abysmal” bus services.

www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk

COUNCILLORS have voted for an investigation into reopening a long-shut railway station in Lymington amid “abysmal” bus services.

Ampress Halt, near to Ampress Park on the edge of the town, closed in 1989 but Cllr Barry Dunning, who is the local county councillor, is pushing for an official feasibility study to look into its revival.

He put forward a motion to the latest Lymington and Pennington Town Council meeting seeking endorsement to partner with Hampshire County Council on the idea.
Cllr Dunning revealed to members that he had spoken to HCC officers and they were privately supportive of exploring the idea.

Interesting how the article compares this proposal to Fawley when that was first mooted. While a station in that part of Lymington might be beneficial for the housing estate and hospital, I’m not sure if it would generate much usage, even in the absence of the nearby bus service.

If the station does reopen, I would suggest that Lymington North or Lymington Hospital would be a better name for it than Ampress Halt in this day and age.

 

[Gloster]

I agree that it probably not going to attract much custom. If you make it convenient for the hospital, it won’t be convenient for the north end of the town and vice-versa, unless you put it right down by the hospital and have a bridge or underpass. The Town station will remain more convenient for most of the town. Although not as ridiculous as some such ideas, this still has the feel of councillors dreaming/seeking publicity. (Before you ask: no, they haven’t got elections this week.)

 

[HamworthyGoods]

As the running time is 10 minutes between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier with 5 minutes change end allowance that’s all the minutes in every hour used up to provide a half-hourly service. When the halt used to exist the branch was only hourly.

Sounds like you could only reopen and serve the halt of the frequency is dropped.

 

[MarkyT]

As the running time is 10 minutes between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier with 5 minutes change end allowance that’s all the minutes in every hour used up to provide a half-hourly service. When the halt used to exist the branch was only hourly.

Sounds like you could only reopen and serve the halt of the frequency is dropped.

Looking at RTT for yesterday it seems trains often manage to get to Town from Brockenhurst around a minute faster than timed. Maybe that's because a Desiro was running, while timings might be based on a slower DMU, as have run on the branch historically.

 

[John Webb]

I'm curious; none of my railway atlases show this halt! Was it opened and closed relatively quickly?

 

[Titfield]

I'm curious; none of my railway atlases show this halt! Was it opened and closed relatively quickly?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampress_Works_Halt_railway_station

has the information you require.

 

[alf]

The branch has a pitiful permanent speed restriction of 35 mph where it sets off in its own direction.
And then either 45 or 50 mph to Lymington.
These speeds seem to have been matched for an M7 tank engine 70 years ago.
If the 35 mph curve were canted it could be raised to 50 mph & the rest of the branch to 60 mph.

That would save ample minutes for Ampress or Hospital halt.

Or if unbuilt, just give passengers a faster trip, & the trains greater recovery time.

 

[Wychwood93]

The branch has a pitiful permanent speed restriction of 35 mph where it sets off in its own direction.
And then either 45 or 50 mph to Lymington.
These speeds seem to have been matched for an M7 tank engine 70 years ago.
If the 35 mph curve were canted it could be raised to 50 mph & the rest of the branch to 60 mph.

That would save ample minutes for Ampress or Hospital halt.

Or if unbuilt, just give passengers a faster trip, & the trains greater recovery time.

There are 60 mph sections already. The general schedule is 10minutes, some 11 minutes (why?). Anyway - as pointed out above - 4 x 10 = 40 + 4 x 5 for turning around - = 60. Hour done. A re-opening would probably need a lift to ground level - on an embankment. Even raising speed to max. 70 would not save much time. It is a good idea, but.......

 

[pdeaves]

Even raising speed to max. 70 would not save much time.

Yes, it's not just top speed permitted but also for how long it's attainable. On short routes, increasing speed may only save a second or two.

 

[John Webb]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampress_Works_Halt_railway_station

has the information you require.

Many thanks! I used the branch several times in the 1950s heading for the IoW on family holidays and can't recall this halt at all - but as it was on Saturdays no doubt the train wasn't stopping there!

 

[Basil Jet]

I'm curious; none of my railway atlases show this halt!

Ampress is shown in Adlestrop... http://systemed.net/atlas/

Also shown in https://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php

 

[pdeaves]

Many thanks! I used the branch several times in the 1950s heading for the IoW on family holidays and can't recall this halt at all - but as it was on Saturdays no doubt the train wasn't stopping there!

Remains are still visible (east side of the line).

 

[30907]

Many thanks! I used the branch several times in the 1950s heading for the IoW on family holidays and can't recall this halt at all - but as it was on Saturdays no doubt the train wasn't stopping there!

It was only ever served by a couple of trains a day.
1961: 7.4am EWD Brockenhurst, 5.25pm SX Lymington.
How the workers got home on Saturdays isn't obvious, but I think Hants and Dorset also served the site.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yes, it's not just top speed permitted but also for how long it's attainable. On short routes, increasing speed may only save a second or two.

But would the (presumed) improved acceleration of 21st century EMUs be more of an advantage? Compared with whatever ran the branch in the 1980s at least.

 

[Dougal2345]

Remains are still visible (east side of the line).

Here's a picture I took in 2019 - I think the sign has since disappeared:

The article mentions there's insufficient room for a platform of legal width to be built, but as the original platform is still in place, would "grandfather rights" not allow it to be rebuilt at its current width?

Regarding connections to the hospital, while there are buses, it's mostly one Blue Star route, so if you're travelling in from elsewhere by train, you have to change for the bus at Lymington or Brockenhurst, and the connection times never seem to work out - so the only other option is a long walk alongside a busy road from Lymington Town (30 mins, 1.5 miles).

So I don't know how much use it would get, but I rather think hospitals should get slightly preferential treatment when it comes to public transport provision.