Issue - meetings

Purpose.

The purpose of this report is to inform members of the recommendations for the future development of train services in the Solent area (Portsmouth – Southampton/Eastleigh) contained in “Solent Connectivity”, the Solent Continuous Modular Strategic Planning (CMSP) study

RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation:

1.    Notes the contents of this report

2.    Endorses the CMSP recommended train service specification:

·         Portsmouth – Southampton: additional 2 trains per hour giving 4 trains per hour; and

·         Portsmouth – Eastleigh: additional train per hour giving 2 trains per hour.

3.    Supports in principle the following CMSP recommended infrastructure measures that will be required in Portsmouth to facilitate the new services:

·         Reinstatement of track in platform 2 at Portsmouth Harbour station, bringing the platform back into use; and/or

·         Provision of an additional platform at Portsmouth and Southsea station, adjacent to the low-level platforms 3 and 4.

1.    Noted the contents of this report

2.    Endorsed the CMSP recommended train service specification:

• Portsmouth – Southampton: additional 2 trains per hour giving 4 trains per hour; and
• Portsmouth – Eastleigh: additional train per hour giving 2 trains per hour.

3.    Supported in principle the following CMSP recommended infrastructure measures that will be required in Portsmouth to facilitate the new services:

• Agreed the reinstatement of track in platform 2 at Portsmouth Harbour station, bringing the platform back into use; and/or
• Agreed the provision of an additional platform at Portsmouth and Southsea station, adjacent to the low-level platforms 3 and 4.

Hayley Chivers, Strategic Transport Leadintroduced the report and with James Nevell, Public Transport Officer in response to questions from members clarified the following points:

After the pandemic, more information on travel demand patterns will be available and the options will be reassessed. 

·           New infrastructure will be required to facilitate the proposed service improvements.

·           More terminal capacity will also mean more robust train timetables and better punctuality.

·           Solent Transport is working with the Department for Transport and Network Rail to secure inclusion of the necessary infrastructure measures in the Rail Network Enhancement Programme.

·           The detailed modelling is yet to be done.

DECISIONS

1.     Noted the contents of this report

2.     Endorsed the CMSP recommended train service specification:

·           Portsmouth – Southampton: additional 2 trains per hour giving 4 trains per hour; and

·           Portsmouth – Eastleigh: additional train per hour giving 2 trains per hour.

3.     Supported in principle the following CMSP recommended infrastructure measures that will be required in Portsmouth to facilitate the new services:

·           Agreed the reinstatement of track in platform 2 at Portsmouth Harbour station, bringing the platform back into use; and/or

·           Agreed the provision of an additional platform at Portsmouth and Southsea station, adjacent to the low-level platforms 3 and 4.