Mid Hants route west of Alresford about to disappear for good

Planning approval granted for new houses in the cutting to the west of the current railhead in Alresford means that the railway can never extend.
I know it's all but impossible but the news in the link below makes me quite sad. I believe quite a few MHR supporters secretly nurture the unspoken hope that one day and somehow the impetus, funding and resources would be found to reopen the route towards Winchester Junction, and a kindly benefactor would leave £10m to rebuild the bridge over the M3.
While it was about as likely as track being relaid through Devonshire Tunnel it was not completely impossible....until now.
I would give a lot to see a thumper taking the curve again at a relaid Winchester Junction.



http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8247...23_new_houses/

 

Link doesn't work, opens on an article on swimming

 

Was it ever really a practical option? The MHR seems to have reached its optimum length, and is now sensibly embarking on improving the facilities it offers its core business and consolidating its infrastructure and operating assets within the constraints of this.

The money that would be involved in such a pipe-dream would be prohibitive, particularly given the limited extra revenue that such an extension would generate, and I am sure that all those in the upper echelons of the MHR realised this long ago.

 

Simon apologies you are right - espionage no doubt to blame - try this one.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8247806.Approval_for_23_new_houses/

 

Very shortsighted to build on any former railway route, and it almost certainly contravenes the Local Area Plan. Far too many houses in Southern England already!

 

The route has already been breached at Itchen Abbas, the M3 and at Spring Vale.

 

I was once a member of the MHR back in the early 80s (I lived in the Portsmouth area then) before the Alton extension was completed and, even back then, it was recognised by the MHR that any extension West of Alresford would be beyond their abilities at that time - they had to work hard and struggle to get the Alton extension completed, which was, in the end, a prize worth fighting for. Of course, what was considered impossible at one time might be possible in the future but the MHR has focused on liking what it has rather than having what it liked. Having said all that, it is still extremely sad to be part of a generation who saw a chance to reinstate a railway line slip away - I don't feel good about this being lost "on my watch" as future generations will probably point the finger at us just as we point the finger at those who committed railway lines to ruin which we now have to fiight to reopen and, in some cases, literally clear the rubbish of past decisions away.

 

The best form of expansion for the MHR would be mainline services to Woking so it has a better connection to London..(afterall thats where the larger number of people are).
Still that all depends on a business case, which I'd assume would only make sense for gala's etc.

 

Unfortunately, there are no paths between Alton and Farnham during the day except on Sundays before 1300 and the hour gap at noon on weekdays on days when the Holybourne tanks don't run.

 

Plandampf ?