Consultation begins on Fawley line’s ‘cheaper than £45 million’ open access service

Restoring passenger services along the Fawley line would “definitely not cost £45 million”, according to the man behind a new open access plan.

Industry consultation has begun on Alliance Rail (Southern)’s proposal for an hourly service linking Marchwood and Southampton Central, with every second train continuing to London Waterloo.

Ian Yeowart, the operator’s Managing Director, said plans had received “quite a lot of support” from local stakeholders and people within Network Rail.

Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership said in 2020, when the line was part of the now-axed Restoring Your Railway programme, that reopening the route would cost £45m. Network Rail was given £7m to examine the line and develop the business case.

Yeowart is confident that services can be reinstated for a much cheaper price, although he wouldn’t discuss costings. However, he said having three miles of 30mph track “is fine” for the service.

Marchwood station remains intact, with a single platform long enough to accommodate a four-car Class 769 bi-mode unit for the Southampton shuttle.

However, the platform surface is in poor condition, while Yeowart said Marchwood “hardly has a car park”.

He added: “We are looking to see if there’s some space [in the station building] for passengers. If not in the current building, we could find some way to provide an environment suitable, subject to planning.”

Part of Alliance Rail (Southern)’s plan involves building a new Marchwood station with a car park.

The station also has a gated level crossing. Yeowart added: “We will probably have to upgrade to have (full) automatic barriers.”

Meanwhile the ‘769s’ would most likely be maintained at Eastleigh.

Nick Farthing, Chair and Director of the Hampshire Community Rail Partnership, and David Northey, Strategic Rail Lead at Get on Board, both support the scheme.

Farthing said the original plan had a positive benefit:cost ratio unless the effect on the local bus company was included. However, both he and Northey said the line could benefit the bus firm, the Hythe Ferry, and ease congestion on the A326.

Northey pointed out that at Okehampton, rerouting buses to the station led to a 40% growth in passenger numbers.

They also said little work would be needed to recommission the line for passenger use for the first time since 1966.

Northey said a train could be run down the line “today”, adding: “You could do something to reconfigure Marchwood station. You don’t have to upgrade the whole signalling.” The route is currently controlled by semaphores.

Farthing added: “Whatever passenger figures Network Rail comes up with, we know there will always be more,” with Northey noting that the five-year passenger target for Okehampton had been reached in two.

New Forest East MP Julian Lewis (Conservative) opposed the previous plan. Reacting to the latest proposal, he feared the impact that an hourly train service would have on traffic due to the level crossing being used more often.

He said: “It’s hard to envisage a viable business model for such a service without a large government subsidy. Nor should the negative effect on Waterside bus services and the Hythe Ferry be overlooked.”