In two Sundays time, the Fareham - Gosport Bus Rapid Transit link (BRT) opens up for service. First have 14 brand new Volvo B7RLEs ready to launch onto the route, with new services E1 and E2. For more details about the services, go here to the Eclipse website or click here to my blog entry on the changes. With this in mind, I went out this morning to capture some shots which may have some historical value one day.
Redlands LaneThis is the most northerly entrance to the BRT link at present, and allows buses to join just after the former railway bridge onto Redlands Lane. This means BRT service in Fareham will depart toward the town centre (actually heading out along the newly bus lane-d Western Way) before heading down this quiet neck of Fareham's woods.
With the echo of the trains from the nearby Fareham railway station, you really get a feel of how close this is the the station. Furthermore, you also get a feeling of what this location would have been like if the railway line had been reinstated. The bridge even has the sign on it saying "if anything strikes this bridge contact Railtrack immediately as the safety of trains may be impaired..." - this made me chuckle!
Wych Lane bridge (or rather, the former site of)
The site of Wych Lane bridge is now a X junction, where the BRT passes straight through. Traffic lights are there to give buses priority, and gates are on either side to prevent unauthorised traffic from heading up the BRT.
One of the bike racks (pictured on the right) at Wych Lane stop, along with CCTV cameras and more.
My final photo from Wych Lane bridge - here is the BRT looking towards Gosport. This also shows how the north-south road means that sun friendly photos will only be possible of buses heading southbound to Gosport along the BRT.
Bridgemary (Gregson Avenue)
Here is a view looking over the bridge in Bridgemary from Gregson Avenue. We are looking north towards Fareham. To the right is one of the bus stops being prepared for service in just under two weeks.
Brewers Lane
Here is a view from the single file bridge carrying BRT over the former railway line. The bridge is arched, so high buses - double deckers - have to go into the centre of the road to get under this bridge easily. You are looking north on this photo.
Tichbourne Way
The end of the line for BRT for now. Buses turn left here and head into Tichbourne Way, rejoining the main roads for the routes through Ann's Hill and Elson to Gosport town centre. We are looking south.
This shot shows the junction onto BRT along Tichbourne Way. Again the buses have priority. To be honest, the level of traffic along here suggests to me that traffic lights are unnecessary, but it also keeps up the "Bus Priority" notion of the scheme.
The End of the Line
These tracks are the lines to Military base, that were in use long after passenger services disappeared on 6th June 1953. These are one of the few parts of the railway left for the Gosport - Fareham line. These are visible just away from the Tichbourne Way entrance to BRT.
While I am excited for the start of BRT, I am also saddened that the railway will disappear. In my ideal world the railway will never have closed - I'm a firm believer that railways will be required in the future more and more, and that a dip in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s has shut many railways that may be required. Nonetheless, BRT will serve the area better than a reinstated railway - the benefits are huge:
* far more flexible services
* cheaper - no need to reinstate track / points work / new signalling at Fareham / rebuilding or building new stations / closing footpaths / disturbing residents etc
* new services can be simply added by adding further buses rather than resignalling or increasing platform length
* there is a reinstated direct link to Fareham railway station anyway
BRT was the best decision in my view according the to circumstances presented to the council and planners. If more of the railway line from Brockhurst (where the station still exists, albeit as a private property) to Gosport town centre then perhaps the railway would have been better. However, it wasn't.
For those more interested in Gosport's railways:
* Google maps' Satellite view still shows shots from 2007 from Fareham rail station to south of Bedenham/Tichbourne Way, and are worth a look.
* There is an excellent "disused railways" website - click here for the page directly to Gosport.
* a book Branchlines around Gosport by V Mitchell and K Smith is excellent - available from Waterstones in Fareham (where I bought my one!) ISBN: 0 906520 36 3
The site of Wych Lane bridge is now a X junction, where the BRT passes straight through. Traffic lights are there to give buses priority, and gates are on either side to prevent unauthorised traffic from heading up the BRT.
Here is a view looking over the bridge in Bridgemary from Gregson Avenue. We are looking north towards Fareham. To the right is one of the bus stops being prepared for service in just under two weeks.
Here is a view from the single file bridge carrying BRT over the former railway line. The bridge is arched, so high buses - double deckers - have to go into the centre of the road to get under this bridge easily. You are looking north on this photo.
The end of the line for BRT for now. Buses turn left here and head into Tichbourne Way, rejoining the main roads for the routes through Ann's Hill and Elson to Gosport town centre. We are looking south.
These tracks are the lines to Military base, that were in use long after passenger services disappeared on 6th June 1953. These are one of the few parts of the railway left for the Gosport - Fareham line. These are visible just away from the Tichbourne Way entrance to BRT.
While I am excited for the start of BRT, I am also saddened that the railway will disappear. In my ideal world the railway will never have closed - I'm a firm believer that railways will be required in the future more and more, and that a dip in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s has shut many railways that may be required. Nonetheless, BRT will serve the area better than a reinstated railway - the benefits are huge:
* far more flexible services
* cheaper - no need to reinstate track / points work / new signalling at Fareham / rebuilding or building new stations / closing footpaths / disturbing residents etc
* new services can be simply added by adding further buses rather than resignalling or increasing platform length
* there is a reinstated direct link to Fareham railway station anyway
BRT was the best decision in my view according the to circumstances presented to the council and planners. If more of the railway line from Brockhurst (where the station still exists, albeit as a private property) to Gosport town centre then perhaps the railway would have been better. However, it wasn't.
For those more interested in Gosport's railways:
* Google maps' Satellite view still shows shots from 2007 from Fareham rail station to south of Bedenham/Tichbourne Way, and are worth a look.
* There is an excellent "disused railways" website - click here for the page directly to Gosport.
* a book Branchlines around Gosport by V Mitchell and K Smith is excellent - available from Waterstones in Fareham (where I bought my one!) ISBN: 0 906520 36 3
Very pretty. But this has created absolute chaos for other road users. The main bypas Eastern Way, which takes traffic around Fareham, has been reduced to a single lane to allow this bus accsess. Most car drivers in Gosport are NOT going to up sticks and suddenly start using this service. I for one work in Portsmouth, but live in Rowner. I would love to see this service get me there in the time it takes me - even on a bad day ! And at the cost of using my car ! This will never replace the car, and has created a major problem. Not impressed
ReplyDeletewith new services E1 and E2. For more details about the services is good and they have WiFi on the Eclipse buses .
DeleteTo travel fast you can take the bus and you will enjoy this post
ReplyDeletewifi!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe picture at the top looks nothing like our buses. Please get a picture of our buses and don't lie :D
ReplyDelete