What was the point?

[43067]

About 3 years ago Portsmouth gained it's own frieght terminal at Fratton, since it was built the only use i am aware of was a test involving a CL66, ISO tank and a 40ft container both on flats. since then i have seen no use for this whatsoever. What gives it away is the rusty track. So why was it built? there really is'nt the need or is there, at the moment most if not all freight goes either to Southampton FLT or arrives by road in artic truck straight to the ferry terminal next to where i work. so was it really a good use of resourses or just a waste of money? i know what i think. what about you.

 

[Hydro]

I have wondered this too. I used to live in Fratton, and saw the train stabled a few times, and passed it as it headed to Eastleigh in the afternoon. I can only put it down to the traffic simply wasn't there. I believe the idea was to deliver containers to Fratton for the likes of Condor Freight up at Hilsea to then truck the containers to the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands etc. The backload was probably the empties going back north. The unfortunate thing was that it was completed and being tested just in time for the economic downturn.

The train was never supposed to a big one, it was basically a trip working from Fratton to Eastleigh. My understanding was the train then was combined with an Intermodal from Soton for the journey north.