This area of the south coast of England has long been a popular railway hotspot for enthusiasts to sample the variety of traffic on offer on today’s railway.
The area is home to one of the UK’s most significant ports as well as railway workshops that continue to see a variety of uses despite mounting competition from overseas. Interest is sustained by virtue of both Freightliner’s base on the outskirts of Southampton and GB Railfreight’s recent "takeover" of the yard at Eastleigh. In addition, both DB Cargo and Colas Rail locos are regular visitors to the area.
In this publication John Jackson takes a look at the variety of traffic passing through the area. The freight traffic for both the railway industry’s external customers and its own Network Rail use is included. This area of Hampshire also serves as an important commuter catchment area for London and a popular destination for rail travel for leisure purposes.
The modern-day rail picture is completed with a look at these passenger services operated by South Western Railway, Southern and Cross Country.