spyinthesky Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 Piece in the Echo today re the electrification of the 'spine' route up to the Midlands and the North which will also allow electric trains to access the port Details are very limited but if the spur from Northam to the Eastern Docks was upgraded to allow electric traction, presumably this would open up opportunities for rail access to St Marys As I understand it provision of a platform at St Marys was considered in the early days but ruled out as too expensive as only Diesel engines could access the adjacent track and the passenger trains from London were hauled by electric locos. If the cost of the line upgrade was paid for by the Govt wonder if would be cost effective for the club to fund a Stadium halt, possibly for football 'specials'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintNeil90 Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 Footballs specials no longer exist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stmaxx Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 it is electrified as used as a sidings for swt, what would need to be done is re-signal the entry and exit to the sidings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles34 Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 would imagine the track runs onto the docks? Surely there must be a case for a line to there as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 Piece in the Echo today re the electrification of the 'spine' route up to the Midlands and the North which will also allow electric trains to access the port Details are very limited but if the spur from Northam to the Eastern Docks was upgraded to allow electric traction, presumably this would open up opportunities for rail access to St Marys As I understand it provision of a platform at St Marys was considered in the early days but ruled out as too expensive as only Diesel engines could access the adjacent track and the passenger trains from London were hauled by electric locos. If the cost of the line upgrade was paid for by the Govt wonder if would be cost effective for the club to fund a Stadium halt, possibly for football 'specials'? Not going to happen and isn't really needed. Would cost a fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 Not going to happen and isn't really needed. Would cost a fortune. More likely to build a new station in the docks itself. Shouldn't have shut the Terminus all those years ago!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 More likely to build a new station in the docks itself. Shouldn't have shut the Terminus all those years ago!! 1933 1969 now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyinthesky Posted 17 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 17 July, 2012 Footballs specials no longer exist I thought that too. However an old work colleague worked for EWS (now Schenkers) and was responsible for the hire of their 'upmarket' train carriages which were relocated about 3-4 years ago from a rail yard near the Olympic site in Stratford to Eastleigh. I put him in touch with SMS ahead of the Johnstone Paint Final as EWS had successfully run a number of football specials around that time to prestigious games at Wembley Think they may still do so for selective games Unfortunately Saints weren't interested Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 I hadnt seen a train on that line for years but last time I visited my mum in soton (about three weeks ago) there were two freight trains carrying minis and Jags across Canute road into the Docks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 I hadnt seen a train on that line for years but last time I visited my mum in soton (about three weeks ago) there were two freight trains carrying minis and Jags across Canute road into the Docks. They quite often (or certainly did when the QE2 was around) had the chartered Orient Express going directly into the Queens dock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 A brief history. http://cruiselinehistory.com/boat-trains-to-southampton-from-cunard-lines-to-the-titanic-and-the-ss-united-states/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyd Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 I hadnt seen a train on that line for years but last time I visited my mum in soton (about three weeks ago) there were two freight trains carrying minis and Jags across Canute road into the Docks. The line is used for freight and The Orient Express. The Royal Train used to use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintBobby Posted 17 July, 2012 Share Posted 17 July, 2012 I travel from London for games by train. It takes a little over an hour. I like walking from the station to the ground. Who would a St Mary's station be aimed at...and who would it help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRichmond Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 Piece in the Echo today re the electrification of the 'spine' route up to the Midlands and the North which will also allow electric trains to access the port Details are very limited but if the spur from Northam to the Eastern Docks was upgraded to allow electric traction, presumably this would open up opportunities for rail access to St Marys As I understand it provision of a platform at St Marys was considered in the early days but ruled out as too expensive as only Diesel engines could access the adjacent track and the passenger trains from London were hauled by electric locos. If the cost of the line upgrade was paid for by the Govt wonder if would be cost effective for the club to fund a Stadium halt, possibly for football 'specials'? Cortese should relocate to Stoneham, (with a new 45000 Stadium), where excellent access by Rail, Road, and Air are already in situ Logical really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torres Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 Cortese should relocate to Stoneham, (with a new 45000 Stadium), where excellent access by Rail, Road, and Air are already in situ Logical really It's also dead easy for every to walk to from town. Stoneham is ideal, yeah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyer Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 The station cant be used because its a dead end and not on the main line, all trains would have to back up to carry on to their destination. It would only be of use if it was already on the main line and just needed a station to be built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st alex Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 More likely to build a new station in the docks itself. Shouldn't have shut the Terminus all those years ago!! Could have kept this open as well. At least could have reused the building for something. http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/n/northam/index.shtml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom8558 Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 At the risk of being an anorak, some info. When SMS was built they looked into reopening the docks line. The idea was that the line would be used for commuters to ocean village during the week and for games at SMS at weekends. In fact the old Northam station was on the docks line and was located behind the Chapel. The cost in 2001 was around £3 million for upgrading the line, plus the cost of building two stations. The plan never got off the ground. Reopening old rail lines is generally very complicated, as funding tends to come from all sorts of different places and the reinstatement process is not straightforward. I guess that it was just too much like hard work for little benefit. Operating the line would also have been difficult as the curve from Southampton Central has been filled in and is now part of a school playing field. This would mean that trains could only run north without reversing. The more sensible place for a station for SMS would have been the other side of Northam bridge on the main line, connected to the stadium by an underpass. However, South West trains very thoughtfully built their train care centre on the site. I also have it on authority from a SW Trains employee that they would not consider a station on the site anyway as it would affect train operations on the main line and slow things down. I can only see the issue being revisited if SMS was extended, as it would make sense to try to reduce the number of cars in the area, and it might be a condition of extension. Otherwise don't hold your breath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyinthesky Posted 18 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 18 July, 2012 The line is used for freight and The Orient Express. The Royal Train used to use it. Unfortunately I dont think the the Orient Express has used the eastern Docks Line for a few years now Cunard used to charter the VSOE for their Line voyages to New York but it was never full, even when space sold to day trippers Shame really as it was a great sight I had the pleasure of a return trip up to Victoria, steam hauled, a few years back Absolutely fantastic!! Loads of people looking out for the train on the way up and we had a great on board meal Coming back on the late night SWT scheduled service was a bit of a let down though Freight trains into the Eastern Docks nowadays consist of Land Rovers from Halewood (Liverpool), Jags from Castle Bromwich (Brum) and Minis from Oxford. Think there may still be the occasional Boat Train but most now seem to go into the Mayflowert Terminal in the Western Docks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 My grandad used to be an engine-driver at Eastleigh: I remember the phrase "Up with the Aki and down with the Morri" [Aquitania and Mauritania] Tom8558: no problems here with anoraks, the fact that we're all here..... What about a light railway or tram system, any legs in that when we get our stadium expansion?;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsoon Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 At the risk of being an anorak, some info. When SMS was built they looked into reopening the docks line. The idea was that the line would be used for commuters to ocean village during the week and for games at SMS at weekends. In fact the old Northam station was on the docks line and was located behind the Chapel. The cost in 2001 was around £3 million for upgrading the line, plus the cost of building two stations. The plan never got off the ground. Reopening old rail lines is generally very complicated, as funding tends to come from all sorts of different places and the reinstatement process is not straightforward. I guess that it was just too much like hard work for little benefit. Operating the line would also have been difficult as the curve from Southampton Central has been filled in and is now part of a school playing field. This would mean that trains could only run north without reversing. The more sensible place for a station for SMS would have been the other side of Northam bridge on the main line, connected to the stadium by an underpass. However, South West trains very thoughtfully built their train care centre on the site. I also have it on authority from a SW Trains employee that they would not consider a station on the site anyway as it would affect train operations on the main line and slow things down. I can only see the issue being revisited if SMS was extended, as it would make sense to try to reduce the number of cars in the area, and it might be a condition of extension. Otherwise don't hold your breath. Siemens own the traincare depot at northam, there couldn't be a station down by sms because that part of the track is used to bring trains on and off of the depot as well as stopping trains on before they go into depot for maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dellboypete Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 The line is used for freight and The Orient Express. The Royal Train used to use it. Quite bizarre - I was on a train going into Victoria Station this morning and the Orient Express was just being pulled in for one of it's regular tours of southern England by the Merchant Navy Class #35028 “Clan Line” locomotive. (Actually to be accurate, they were being pulled in backwards by what looked to be a hefty diesel unit). Quite a sight though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dellboypete Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 At the risk of being an anorak, some info. When SMS was built they looked into reopening the docks line. The idea was that the line would be used for commuters to ocean village during the week and for games at SMS at weekends. In fact the old Northam station was on the docks line and was located behind the Chapel. The cost in 2001 was around £3 million for upgrading the line, plus the cost of building two stations. The plan never got off the ground. Reopening old rail lines is generally very complicated, as funding tends to come from all sorts of different places and the reinstatement process is not straightforward. I guess that it was just too much like hard work for little benefit. Operating the line would also have been difficult as the curve from Southampton Central has been filled in and is now part of a school playing field. This would mean that trains could only run north without reversing. Just had a look at this on google earth and the original line of the track is clearly seen on the opposite side of the existing line behind the Kingsland Stand by the line of trees cutting across the playing fields as mentioned above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 Quite bizarre - I was on a train going into Victoria Station this morning and the Orient Express was just being pulled in for one of it's regular tours of southern England by the Merchant Navy Class #35028 “Clan Line” locomotive. (Actually to be accurate, they were being pulled in backwards by what looked to be a hefty diesel unit). Quite a sight though. Loco is stabled at Stewarts Lane. It reverses out of the sheds where it is coupled to the stock. Propelling stock is not allowed, hence the diesel hauling the train into Victoria, where it is uncoupled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 Just had a look at this on google earth and the original line of the track is clearly seen on the opposite side of the existing line behind the Kingsland Stand by the line of trees cutting across the playing fields as mentioned above The junction as originally laid out with SMS superimposed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 Great pictures Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ_TOAST Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 Cortese should relocate to Stoneham, (with a new 45000 Stadium), where excellent access by Rail, Road, and Air are already in situ Logical really yeh great idea with fck all pubs around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OVER THE HILL Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 There was a railway line running from Britannia Road alongside the gas holders then up to the main line.It is now used for storing new cars. Another possibility perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPTCount Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 trams ftw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 18 July, 2012 Share Posted 18 July, 2012 yeh great idea with fck all pubs around I agree, but it could be argued that with that much money going into something like that they could just build one or two pubs and either have them club-run or rent them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM Posted 19 July, 2012 Share Posted 19 July, 2012 I've been travelling by train to matches for years and southampton central is absolutely fine. What is wrong with people who can't do a brisk 15min walk? The fact you can get back to London / woking / guildford / reading / Basingstoke easily from night games shows that. What purpose would a stop outside the ground have? Perhaps the best investment would be better bus services from around the region to the ground, possibly from Andover / Romsey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 19 July, 2012 Share Posted 19 July, 2012 Unfortunately I dont think the the Orient Express has used the eastern Docks Line for a few years now Cunard used to charter the VSOE for their Line voyages to New York but it was never full, even when space sold to day trippers Shame really as it was a great sight I had the pleasure of a return trip up to Victoria, steam hauled, a few years back Absolutely fantastic!! Loads of people looking out for the train on the way up and we had a great on board meal Coming back on the late night SWT scheduled service was a bit of a let down though Freight trains into the Eastern Docks nowadays consist of Land Rovers from Halewood (Liverpool), Jags from Castle Bromwich (Brum) and Minis from Oxford. Think there may still be the occasional Boat Train but most now seem to go into the Mayflowert Terminal in the Western Docks Living in Ocean Village I can add that the boat trains are still a regular occurrence to the Old Docks. Fairly regularly for Cunard boats (imagine its a part of the "Traditonal British sale"). In fact on our cruise last year we had to wait until the boat train from Scotland arrived. We watched it from our balcony pull up at the old QEII terminal two hours late!!!! Rare to see one pulled by a steam engine, but have seen the odd one or two a year. Some wonderful posts, links and photos on this thread. And as I'm writing this I can hear the two tone horn of a train crossing Canute Road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 19 July, 2012 Share Posted 19 July, 2012 Not going to happen and isn't really needed. Would cost a fortune. Exactly. It'd be lunacy to spend millions for a station that would only be used once a fortnight and not at all during the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handyman Posted 19 July, 2012 Share Posted 19 July, 2012 I travel from London for games by train. It takes a little over an hour. I like walking from the station to the ground. Who would a St Mary's station be aimed at...and who would it help? It would keep the visiting yobbo's out of the town. (Not that most football fans aren't decent folk) I'm talking about the horrible minority that we don't want rampaging through our streets. They would be straight off and on the trains and hopefully cause little trouble. The local service that does the circular route via Romsey and Chandlers Ford could be a great boon for our fans if it could stop at the Stadium halt on matchdays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now