ALTON Line UsersÕ Association (ALUA) has awarded itself a Òpat on the backÓ this week as local passengers reap the benefit from the reintroduction of a half-hourly off-peak service to Alton.

The result of a lengthy campaign, following the reduction to an hourly service after the singling of the line to Farnham in 1985, this improvement has earned South West Trains (SWT) some much-needed brownie points.

In its most recent newsletter, ALUA has commended the train company for Òresponding to passenger needsÓ in such a positive way.

ÒWe hope that further improvements will follow, although much will depend on the partial reinstatement of double track between Farnham and Alton,Ó writes ALUA chairman Chris Campbell.

The fear is that the current single track line will be operating to capacity to accommodate existing traffic and will not be able, in its present form, to accommodate additional trains generated by freight operators at Holybourne. They include the new Onyx Hampshire waste materials recovery facility and Star Energy, which has plans to increase production at its Humbly Grove oil field at Lasham.

On another track, while Alton line users are expected to be among the first on the SWT network to try out the companyÕs new Desiro rolling stock, ALUA is disappointed that plans for a £22 million traction depot at Farnham Station appear to have been axed.

According to ALUA, the new 15-road facility would have supplemented SWTÕs main Desiro depot at Northam, Southampton and would have been used for stabling, toilet-emptying and light maintenance.

Following the introduction of the new four-year franchise, it is understood from the SRA that the present five-road depot will be used for this purpose. Also that one siding towards Farnham station will be electrified, but that Bentley and Alton trains will still join the single line at the throat of the Farnham carriage sidings.

This, ALUA points out, already causes heavy delays in peak periods and on all occasions when trains are delayed between Waterloo and Alton.

ÒThe ALUA committee all agree that essential double track must be provided past the Farnham sidings bottleneck to improve reliability for extra freight trainsÓ stressed Mr Campbell.

On the question of train performance, ALUA remains concerned that, despite welcome improvements to off-peak operating, the late-night service from Waterloo has worsened with still only two direct trains to Alton after 21.33 and a 62 minute gap between the 22.22 and 23.24. Furthermore, that gap could increase to 71 minutes in September when the last train may be re-timed to leave Waterloo at 23.33

ÒWhile some passengers will welcome the fact that the last direct train leaves at a later time, most will agree that it is unacceptable for passengers travelling back late in the evening to face the possibility of waiting over an hour for a train home,Ó pointed out Mr Campbell.

The intention is to continue to press for a half-hourly service until the last train at night.

l A spokesperson for South West Trains has since confirmed that permission has in fact been given for work to go ahead at Farnham Station pending discussion with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) on the number of tracks needed.

Network Rail has also reported that over 18km of conductor rail has been replaced and works are to commence shortly on the installation of a new substation at Farnham. New trains can therefore run on the line, but in limited numbers and will be introduced in full in October.