Freight Upgrade for Southampton rail

Network Rail is hoping to remove up to 50 000 freight container lorries per year from the roads by up-grading a second rail route from Southampton docks.  The first route runs from Southampton via Eastleigh and Romsey; the new route will run via Romsey and Andover, and will require 17 bridges to be knocked down and re-built.  The track will have to be altered at 11 places.

These alterations mean that the railway will be able to accomodate high-cube freight containers in a more fuel efficient way than moving the cargo by road.