Southsea Railway

The Southsea Railway was a branch of the Portsmouth Direct Line.

It was opened in 1885 from Fratton Station, terminating at East Southsea Station (near to a road junction called The Strand). It was 1.25 miles long [ [http://www.portsmouth-guide.co.uk/local/soutrail.htm Portsmouth Guide – the Southsea Railway] ] and almost completely level. Two unstaffed halts were added in 1904 at Albert Road and Jessie Road/Devonshire Avenue ["The Southsea Railway" Robertson,K: Southampton, Kingfisher, 1985 ISBN 094618416X] . The line was not able to compete with the Portsmouth Corporation tram services, despite the introduction of cheaper autocars [ [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/davidlloyd/railmotor.htm History of GWR railmotors and autocoaches] – "Notes how the Southsea railmotor was borrowed for trials by the GWR"] . It was closed when war broke out in 1914 and never re-opened. The line itself and the stations have since been demolished and replaced with houses and roads; however, it is possible to walk the approximate route, which is clearly visible on street maps of the area [Robertson(Ibid)] .

Southsea is now served by stations at Fratton, Portsmouth & Southsea, and Portsmouth Harbour (also called The Hard), with regular trains to London Waterloo and coastway services [”Woking to Portsmouth” Mitchell,V/Smith,K: Midhurst, Middleton Press,1984 ISBN 1873793381] .

Notes