Trams for Southampton

[PTR 444]

I know there have been some proposals to run trams along the railway between Southampton Terminus and Eastleigh but this idea of mine covers more of the city centre. Phase 1 (pictured) is a panhandle shaped route starting at Central Station and services can either run clockwise or anticlockwise around the loop. St Mary's to Ocean Village utilises the defunct Southampton Terminus branch, while the other sections consist of street running with the exception of a short stretch between Civic Centre/Marlands and Central Station, which uses the pedestrian route behind the BBC building. The stretch of track west of Central Station will be used for stabling of the trams, although I plan to extend this west of there to allow trams to serve Totton and Shirley. I also have further extensions proposed to serve Eastleigh, University, Hedge End and Hamble.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’d really like that idea. You’d need it to serve the busy parts of Southampton though. Central yes, and the Saint’s stadium yes, but also Ikea and the Isle of Wight port?

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Couldn’t you extend that over to Portsmouth?

 

[PTR 444]

Couldn’t you extend that over to Portsmouth?

Would anyone actually use it though when there’s already a decently rail alternative? Better to develop Portsmouth/Gosport tram as a separate network before thinking about joining the two together.

 

[PTR 444]

I’d really like that idea. You’d need it to serve the busy parts of Southampton though. Central yes, and the Saint’s stadium yes, but also Ikea and the Isle of Wight port?

The Town Quay stop is close enough to the ferry terminal and Bargate is only a short walk away from IKEA. I did consider running the city section along Harbour Parade and Western Esplanade but this would be less convenient for serving much of the central shopping area.

 

[swt_passenger]

Would anyone actually use it though when there’s already a decently rail alternative? Better to develop Portsmouth/Gosport tram as a separate network before thinking about joining the two together.

Portsmouth Gosport by direct tram is dead. Far too difficult (or expensive?) to get under the harbour entrance.

 

[PTR 444]

This is Phase 2 of my proposed Southampton tram network. It extends from west the stub at Southampton Central, running alongside the existing main line as far as Rushington (west of Totton), before taking over the Fawley branch line. Where this line ends, trams will extend into Fawley village via street running, before finally terminating at the new development on the site of Fawley Power Station (marked as Calshot Bay on the map).

 

[Meerkat]

Why do those routes require trams rather than buses?
Would a tram the long way round from Hythe be quicker than the ferry?

 

[PTR 444]

Why do those routes require trams rather than buses?
Would a tram the long way round from Hythe be quicker than the ferry?

The same argument could be used for reinstatement of a national rail service along the same corridor. IMO, a tram would be better as it would be able to run into the centre of Fawley and the new development at the former power station, which the current heavy rail line does not. Going to Southampton on this would in most cases be quicker than going by bus which can get stuck in traffic along Millbrook Road.

 

[Meerkat]

Buses to the Hythe ferry. Spend the money on bus priority and cycle routes to Hythe, ferry improvements, and bus priority in Southampton that would benefit far more corridors

 

[Clip]

Buses to the Hythe ferry. Spend the money on bus priority and cycle routes to Hythe, ferry improvements, and bus priority in Southampton that would benefit far more corridors

But from the map drawn this would take people to Hythe for the ferry - dont think the OP was seriously suggesting that people would do the whole route into Southampton as their commute when its obviously faster via the ferry

 

[Drsatan]

As this the 'speculative ideas' subforum, I'd like to propose a tramway continuing west of Totton to Lyndhurst via Ashurst New Forest, which would run alongside the A35.

Hopefully, a tramway to Lyndhurst would help reduce the number of cars entering the town.