Daily Echo reporting latest proposal to improve local rail provision in Southampton

[PTR 444]

Trains could run from Southampton to busy stations every 30 MINUTES under new plans

MAJOR plans for additional train services that could change the way people move in and around Southampton have been unveiled.

www.dailyecho.co.uk

MAJOR plans for additional train services that could change the way people move in and around Southampton have been unveiled.
New train services linking Southampton, Eastleigh and Fareham could be created within the next five years, it has been revealed.
It comes as transport bosses said the area is currently served by hourly services.
But under the new plans there could be train services every 30 minutes in each direction.
The additional trains would stop at a number of stations including Woolston, Hamble, Botley and Swaythling.

While I’m all for improved local rail provision that gives stations better than an hourly service, I can’t see how this plan is remotely workable without spending millions on capacity improvements. A half-hourly loop service in each direction would most likely need four-tracking of Southampton - Eastleigh to work without removing existing services, as well as doubling the remainder of Eastleigh - Fareham. Southampton - Fareham can support an increase from 4tph to 5tph without infrastructure improvements but I’m not sure how sustainable 6tph would be, especially when only 2tph would continue to Portsmouth which would likely remain a much larger market from Southampton.

 

[Carlisle]

We’ve seen a multitude of proposals over the years to improve services in this area, a while back the Solent LRT was going to take over the Fareham -Southampton route .

 

[PTR 444]

We’ve seen a multitude of proposals over the years to improve services in this area, a while back the Solent LRT was going to take over the Fareham -Southampton route .

Now the above really would have been unworkable. Every single Southampton - Fareham train would had to have been diverted via Botley to free up the Netley line for trams, and there’s no way you could get 4tph reversing at Eastleigh in each direction.

 

[Carlisle]

Now the above really would have been unworkable. Every single Southampton - Fareham train would had to have been diverted via Botley to free up the Netley line for teams, and there’s no way you could get 4tph reversing at Eastleigh in each direction.

There was of course talk of reopening the old Fareham -Knowle loop, needless to say funding was never likely for that

 

[swt_passenger]

We’ve seen a multitude of proposals over the years to improve services in this area, a while back the Solent LRT was going to take over the Fareham -Southampton route .

Never a possibility IMHO. They never really explained how they’d magic away all the existing services…

The “Echo” probably should have written Southampton - Eastleigh and Southampton - Fareham separately. The way they’ve done it leads to assumptions about through services that just aren’t likely, once you consider both routes separately it becomes more realistic.

Then, the Botley line has already previously had a half hourly service in the peak flow directions. That’s not too revolutionary.

 

[Stephen1001]

Having had both Swaythling and St Denys as my local station at various times, this proposal seems a very good idea - and, like all of the other proposals before it, highly likely never to happen. I hope to be proved wrong.