Whitehill and Bordon has received the strongest indication yet that it is right on track to getting its old railway line reinstated.
At a brain-storming meeting in London last week, some of Britain's top transport experts, headed by Sir Peter Hall – professor of planning and regeneration at University College, London – came down unanimously in favour of the scheme.
All the expe
rts said it could be economically viable because there were likely to be enough people using it.
The trains would run from Whitehill and Bordon via Bentley and then on to London – and they could start running after the new rail franchise comes into effect in 2017.
The meeting, organised by East Hampshire District Council, was attended by bus and rail operators, along with the government's Highways Agency, and they all gave a firm thumbs up to the scheme. EHDC is leading a bid to transform the town into an Eco-town, and as part of this, it wants to reduce the number of car journeys residents need to make.
David Parkinson, the council's deputy leader, said: "The meeting was a great success. The panel of experts all agreed that it is vital that Whitehill and Bordon tries for a rail link to other towns."
At present, the nearest railway station is at Liphook, which is five miles from the town.
Mr Parkinson added: "A rail link will not only give residents an easier way to travel, but it will be more environmentally friendly and will also bring business into the town. Residents have been concerned that if more homes are built, then there will be more traffic on the roads.
"We are determined to improve the town's transport links. Having a railway would be an excellent asset for the town and I hope residents are excited about it."
Adam Carew, Hampshire county councillor for Bordon, Whitehill and Lindford, declared: "It was a fantastic meeting. All the experts were so positive about the scheme. I am absolutely thrilled and delighted."
Mr Carew said that following the meeting, there would now be "a lot of negotiations" with the government and he believed it was virtually certain that the transport document for the eco-town bid would have to be revised to ensure that a rail link was a fundamental part of it.
He added: "I know a rail link would a very significant investment, but the transport experts made it absolutely clear there was a distinct possibility that a railway line through the town would be reinstated."
