Seaside town without a train station despite 100000 people living …

London is known to have great travel connections, perfect for day trips and weekends away across the country. But located on England's south coast is one town cannot be reached by train after it lost its only station in 1969. The Hampshire town of Gosport has around 100,000 residents, 24 miles of waterfront, picturesque spots, scenic countryside walks and a rich naval heritage and is a two and a half hour drive from London, reports HampshireLive[1].

The station opened in 1841 and before it shut, it was a very busy terminal for passengers, playing a key part as a route for supplies in both world wars. It was shut as part of the infamous 'Beeching cuts', which saw the restructure of Britain's railways and 2,363 stations closed. Gosport is very tricky to get to from London

After closing, the station building was derelict for decades but in 2008, a planning application was approved to convert the platforms and buildings into offices and residential properties.

These were completed in 2011. Now the closest station is Portsmouth Harbour Rail Station, which is only a 10-minute ferry ride away. Its links to Solent are one of the attractions of the area.

Gosport is one of the best sailing areas in the world, and there are many ways to enjoy the water on offer.

With wind-surfing, paddle-boarding, boat hire and sailing tuition there is something for all ages and abilities. Despite all there is to do in the town it is likely that decreasing passenger numbers contributed to the shutting of the railway station. The town also has a rich naval heritage, and you can visit the Royal Navy Submarine Museum where you can take a tour of Britain's only surviving World War II-era submarine.

There are several other museums that you can visit on your trip to take in the history of the coastal town. There is still the question as to whether Gosport will get a replacement station one day but for now if you want to visit the beautiful seaside town as a break from city life then you can drive or head to nearby Portsmouth on the train. Sign up to our What's On newsletter, Going Out Out[3], for everything from the most exciting events to the new bars and restaurants in the capital HERE[4].

References

1. ^ HampshireLive (www.hampshirelive.news)
2. ^ The pretty town named one of the UK's best and friendliest places to live but tourists can never pronounce it (www.mylondon.news)
3. ^ Going Out Out (data.reachplc.com)
4. ^ HERE (data.reachplc.com)