Transport for the South East (TfSE) proposes new rail station for …
A raft of proposals that could revolutionise how people move around the New Forest – including a new railway station for Hythe and a ferry to Southampton – has been put forward.
Transport for the South East (TfSE) - a partnership of local authorities and enterprise bodies – has published a report that suggests widening the A31 in Ringwood to three lanes within the next seven years.
The report also proposes reopening the Waterside branch railway line, introducing passenger services on the Fawley branch line leading to a new station in Hythe Town, within the next seven years.
TfSE says the proposed rail link would “connect communities and new development sites” in Marchwood, Hythe and Fawley to the rail network and “allow these communities to access the economic hub of Southampton Central” via rail.
The report also proposes that within the next seven years the capacity of the A326 Marchwood bypass should be expanded, alongside an extension to the operating hours and frequency of the Lymington to Isle of Wight ferry.
Medium term proposals by TfSE suggest establishing a new Southampton to Fawley Waterside ferry service by the 2030s. The report said the service would “support new developments in Fawley and provide a fast, reliable and sustainable connection to the city”.
The report also proposes introducing digital signalling on the South West main rail line by the 2030s to increase “capacity and safety” for rail passengers and freight movements.
TfSE said it would like to remove the Totton level crossing on the main line “by delivering either a road underpass or a flyover” by the 2030s, allowing road traffic to cross the line and “alleviate a congestion pinch-point”.
The report also suggested making improvements to junctions 2 and 3 on the M27 by the 2030s to help increase capacity and “improve the flow of traffic”.
By the 2040s, the report proposes introducing a series of “smart motorway interventions” on the M27 and M271 aimed at increasing road capacity and reducing congestion in “particularly busy areas”.
The proposed transport improvements for the Forest, which TfSE has now sent to the government, are part of a broader scheme covering the entire county.
A TfSE spokesperson said: “Working with our partners we will now begin delivery of the nearly 300 interventions within the countywide strategic investment plan.
“Delivery will be dependent on each individual intervention and its local context, the complexity of the scheme, the stage of the scheme and business case development, as well as funding.
“TfSE’s role will be to support the appropriate delivery partners as we progress each scheme and secure funding for scheme development and delivery.”
The spokesperson added that if its countywide investment plan is fully implemented it would create 21,000 new jobs and 500,000 more rail trips each weekday - leading to an extra £4billion in gross value added for the regional economy each year by 2050.
TfSE said its plan would lead to 1.5 million more bus, mass transit and ferry trips each weekday, leading to 4 million fewer car trips each weekday and reducing annual CO2 emissions by 1.4 mega tonnes.
The spokesperson added: “We have submitted this plan to the government and asked them to consider it when making future investment decisions for the region.
“Collectively we can deliver this ambitious plan and deliver a high-quality, safe, sustainable and integrated transport system that makes the south east more productive and competitive, improving the quality of life for all residents.”