REGIONAL railway-franchise holder South West Trains is "not averse" to the possibility of a reinstated rail link in Bordon, it was claimed last week. This is according to an article by Mike Eastwood, a member of The Town Partnership's Whitehill and Bordon Transport Group (WBTG), which aims to improve transport links. In the article, due to appear in a forthcoming Whitehill Town Council newsletter, Mr Eastwood reveals that the WBTG is planning to carry out a feasibility study soon on two suggested routes - Bordon to Bentley and Whitehill to Liss. The town no longer has a station, but a link to Bentley would put the town on the Alton-to- Waterloo line. A Whitehill-Liss link would place it on the Portsmouth Harbour-to-Waterloo line. Both would bring the town within the capital's commuter zone. According to Mr Eastwood, the Bentley link would be the first to be scrutinised as it "would relieve congestion on the A325 and bring much-needed business and industry into the area". He adds: "Encouraging news is that South West Trains (SWT) is not averse to the idea and could provide the necessary means for this to happen, but we need a large subsidy first." This week, WBTG chairman Peter Gauld called for residents to support the project, which he said would be "essential for generations to come". The moves come shortly after SWT-owner, the Stagecoach Group, successfully bid to keep the newly created "south western" rail franchise - merging SWT and the Isle of Wight network - for another 10 years. This contract is due to come into effect in February 2007 and will cost the Stagecoach Group £1.1 billion in subsidies to the government's Department of Transport over the next decade. The Department of Transport is responsible for deciding what routes are included in each rail franchise and will need to be convinced of the benefit of adopting any eventual line to Bordon in the south western franchise before SWT could operate services on it. Semi-public agency Network Rail, responsible for the upkeep of train tracks across the country, would also need to agree to install and maintain new trackwork on the Bordon- to-Bentley line, most of which has been lifted. The WBTG felt it was too early to reveal their contact at SWT, and a train firm spokesman would only say: "If the Department of Transport decided it wanted to rejuvenate the line, then we would consider it." In 2004, SWT refurbished and relaunched the Lymington-to-Brockenhurst railway as a "heritage line", but the spokesman highlighted this line had always remained active and was deemed a popular tourist attraction. The so-called Bordon Light Railway, connecting Bordon and Bentley, was built in 18 months by the London and South Western Railway and opened to the public in 1905. Until the 1950s, the line proved popular with local people who did not own cars or who were hit by petrol rationing during the second world war. It also connected at Bordon with the Longmoor Military Railway and was heavily used for troop movements. The line closed to passengers in 1957 and continued to be used for freight deliveries until steam-powered engines were finally taken out of service in 1966. Today, commuters face congestion travelling on the A325 or longer journeys to the closest railway stations in Bentley and Haslemere. In his article, Mr Eastwood added: "'The Bordon Light Railway forms a significant part of the area's history and the thought that there is a chance of it being reinstated is very exciting." Mr Gauld has told The Herald that a reinstated rail link is "quite necessary for the furtherance of Bordon as an important part of the district". This week he said: "Subsequent public opinion, on the subject of the possibility of renewal of the proposed rail link, has varied from lunacy to genius. If and when the venture starts to take off, it will need all the public support it can get as it is realised that progress through procedures will be slow and costly, but essential for future generations to come. "The initiative must start now and the WBTG intends to involve all interested parties in pursuance of the aim, as it will need much joined-up thought and expertise beyond the means of the current group." He said a train station would have to be close to the town centre, but large and accessible enough to provide parking for commuters. The original Bordon station lay in the middle of what is now the Station Road trading estate. Land behind the estate is on a shortlist of potential sites which will be investigated by the WBTG. The group also wants to study the track bed of the former Bordon-to-Bentley line to establish what obstacles lie in its path. It is thought there are some buildings straddling the route south of Bentley. Members have appealed to residents to get in touch if they have aerial photographs of the area between the Station Road trading estate and Bentley. Anyone who can help is asked to call Mike Eastwood on 01420 478266.
