Decision yet to be made on reopening Totton-Hythe railway

Network Rail has published proposals to restore passenger services on the Totton to Hythe branch line, which has been freight-only since the mid-1960s.

One of the project's biggest supporters is Totton and Marchwood county councillor David Harrison.

He said: "The report compiled by Network Rail on the viability of restoring the service seems to have sat on the Conservative Transport Minister's desk for up to two years, with no action taken.

The former Marchwood station will be upgraded if proposals to reopen the Totton-Hythe rail route are given the go-ahead (Image: Newsquest)

"I can only hope the new Labour Transport Minister will take a look and make a decision. Nobody seems to know what the report says. It hasn't been shared with any local stakeholders, including county councillors.

"I think Labour will base their decision on what the report says, which makes it all the more important that the document is published for all to see."

READ MORE: Residents back proposal to re-open Totton-Hythe branch line

If the scheme goes ahead, services will run from Southampton Central to an upgraded station at Marchwood and a new transport hub in Hythe.

The line closed to passengers in 1966 but continued to serve Fawley oil refinery and Marchwood Military Port, which means the rails, stations, and signals are all still in place.

The former Fawley station, which is now in the middle of the refinery (Image: SEE Southampton)

Two years ago a public consultation revealed overwhelming support for proposals to reopen the line, which originally ran to Fawley.

Speaking at the time, Network Rail said 84 per cent of people who registered their opinion backed the idea of commuter trains using the route.

The consultation was carried out in the summer and autumn of 2022.

Residents were given an opportunity to learn more about the scheme. Those in favour listed some of the benefits it would deliver, including "healthy and sustainable" travel in and out of Southampton.

READ MORE: HS2 decision raises hopes that passenger services on the Totton-Hythe line will be restored

In 2023 the then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, scrapped plans to extend the HS2 high-speed rail link northwards from Birmingham.

Mr Sunak said the £36bn saved by the decision would be spent on other transport projects across the country, including new stations and reopened railway lines.

His remarks raised hopes that the proposal to reopen the Totton-Hythe route would be given the go-ahead.

But no announcement was made and the scheme was not mentioned in the Spring Budget in March this year.

Posting on social media shortly afterwards, Cllr Harrison said: "It is beginning to look a bit like the government has shelved the plan for restoring the service."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said today: "We are committed to setting out a long-term strategy which improves transport whilst delivering value for money.

"Decisions and announcements on individual projects will be made in due course."