I attended the first meeting of the Waterside Community Rail Partnership today, held at Hythe Parish Offices.

The meeting was Chaired by Cllr. Mel Kendal and included Councillors from Totton, Hythe & Fawley, officers from different authorities, including Southampton City Council, Marchwood Parish & Totton & Eling and Mr Phil Dominey from South West Trains.

Initially, the discussions centred around the possibility of opening up a passenger line, linking Southampton to Hythe. However, I suggested and it was subsequently agreed that we look at the possibility of a passenger service all the way to Fawley.

Officers explained that a feasibility study would cost about £15,000. The New Forest National Park Authority, New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council have already agreed to contribute towards this cost. Parish Councils are also being asked to contribute, along with ATOC (The Association of Train Operating Companies).

It was agreed that the feasibility study would look at the business case for a passenger service, as well as the wider economic benefits and critically, the environmental benefits. We all felt that there was likely to be popular support for the proposals and that it would be relatively easy to engage with the public and get local people behind us.

Both Cllr. Weeks and I expressed reservations about what it might mean in terms of the Totton train gates. Already, the gates are closed at Junction Road for 20 minutes in every hour during the daytime. We are not supportive of anything that will worsen the situation. The addition of an hourly passenger service will likely mean another two train movements through the Junction Road gates per hour.

An officer said that at peak times there was likely to be strong demand for a half hourly service. Clearly, it is inconceivable this could happen without some sort of bridge option, or perhaps transfer of other freight services to night-time only use. This might, in turn, have undesirable noise nuisance consequences for residents living near the line, such as in Marchwood.

There was some discussion about what type of train might be employed. It definitely won’t be Steam, because of the cost and because Steam trains are not environmentally friendly. However, consideration will be given to electrifying the line, use of diesel trains and even a light rail train system. The project might proceed with its’ own trains and carriages or might simply be an extension of existing services.

I have agreed to join a small working group, a sub-committee of the new Waterside Community Rail Partnership. We will be scoping the feasibility study in advance of employing a consultant to undertake the work.

It was agreed that Officers from Hampshire County Council would issue a formal press release. In the meantime, my comment is “This is a very exciting development, with great potential benefit for thousands of people living in Totton and the Waterside. However, we will have to proceed with caution and make sure that the project does not go ahead in a way that causes more congestion in Totton or more noise nuisance elsewhere”.