Location : Hampshire, Surrey, Greater London Authority Rushmoor, Guildford, Basingstoke and Deane, Winchester, Runnymede, Eastleigh, Hart, Woking, Surrey Heath, Elmbridge Wandsworth, Merton, Kingston upon Thames City of Southampton South Wonston, Overton, Allbrook, Kings Worthy, Laverstoke, Otterbourne, Headbourne Worthy, Elvetham Heath, Hook, Fleet, Newnham, Compton and Shawford, Winchfield, Pirbright, Old Basing and Lychpit, Micheldever, Deane, Steventon, Oakley Non Civil Parish
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Summary : The London and Southampton Trunk Line originated in a proposal to construct a Spithead to London canal. It was soon apparent that it would be a prodigious and expensive task, and the newer rail transport was seen as a viable alternative. In 1831, the Southampton, London and Branch Railway and Dock Company was formed, the docks being regarded as complementary, the branch referring to a proposed Basingstoke and Bristol branch line. By 1834, the docks scheme had been dropped, and the Bristol branch held in abeyance. The GWR won the authority for a London - Bristol line with a Trowbridge branch giving access to Bristol from Basingstoke. Only the London - Southampton proposal remained. Work started in 1834, although between 1834-7 progress was slow, and it took a further 3 years to complete the most difficult sections. It was opened in its entirety in May 1840, the London terminus being Nine Elms. Nine Elms was replaced by Waterloo as the London terminus in 1845. The original Southampton Station was at the Terminus station just north of the Itchen Quays. This closed in 1966. |