Potential use for Class 769 FLEX

[swt_passenger]

Seeing as we’re being speculative, SWR could use them for a new semi fast service from Portsmouth to Salisbury, and at the same time change the rocket 6 services back to starting and finishing at Totton. I can’t think of any actual benefits of running it as a ‘6’, although I’m sure it’s obvious once pointed out, unless it’s to provide a direct fast service from Millbrook and Redbridge to Romsey and Salisbury and avoid the slog via Chandlers ford.

The reason given a few years ago for the Salisbury - Romseys to keep running as a 6 via Redbridge was to maintain direct connections between Dean and Mottisfont and Southampton Central; and also faster through services between Salisbury and the airport. It was once proposed to run Salisbury to Totton via Eastleigh in one of the Consultations over the years, IIRC Hants county council were dead against it.

SWR took on those minor calls on the route to allow the GW service to be speeded up.

However you would also come up against capacity issues on the Netley Line. If the SWR Portsmouth to Bournemouth ever starts, which will take a semifast path between Fareham and Southampton, I reckon there’ll be little or no capacity left. In the context of this thread of course, Portsmouth to Bournemouth is usefully electric all the way.

 

[pompeyfan]

The reason given a few years ago for the Salisbury - Romseys to keep running as a 6 via Redbridge was to maintain direct connections between Dean and Mottisfont and Southampton Central; and also faster through services between Salisbury and the airport. It was once proposed to run Salisbury to Totton via Eastleigh in one of the Consultations over the years, IIRC Hants county council were dead against it.

SWR took on those minor calls on the route to allow the GW service to be speeded up.

However you would also come up against capacity issues on the Netley Line. If the SWR Portsmouth to Bournemouth ever starts, which will take a semifast path between Fareham and Southampton, I reckon there’ll be little or no capacity left. In the context of this thread of course, Portsmouth to Bournemouth is usefully electric all the way.

my intention was that the service would be Salisbury to Totton via Eastleigh, 769s would make use of the better door positions than compared to a 158 and also provide additional cycle provision but dean and Mottisfont would continue to have direct access to Southampton, but via a slightest longer route through Eastleigh without changing. If anything the airport would have a better service.

I was under the impression the Southampton semi service was expected to just be an out and back service, and that the current stopping service would be expected to Bournemouth, which is why I suggested extending it to Salisbury, to give direct links from places like Woolston to Romsey and Salisbury. Admittedly currently it is only a 25 minute wait at Southampton all being well.

 

[swt_passenger]

I may be out of date, in the original consultation table 158 they definitely extended the new semifast service as all stations beyond (west of) Southampton.

But I think many of these sort of suggestions are not solving an existing problem; more a case of starting with a 769 and trying to find a home...