Transport history History of Southampton

1 transport history

1.1 floating bridge
1.2 trams
1.3 buses
1.4 railways

transport history
floating bridge


the floating bridge in june 1977

the floating bridge opened in 1836 , connected southampton woolston @ time woolston separate village on east bank of river itchen, did not become part of southampton until 1920. owned private company, floating bridge purchased southampton corporation in 1934. service continued until 1977 when itchen bridge opened.

trams


southampton corporation tram decorated duke of york s visit southampton in july 1930

horse-drawn trams appeared in southampton in 1879. electrified trams introduced in 1900. 1908, southampton corporation built of own trams @ works in portswood. in 1923, specially designed trams introduced. these had unique rounded roofs allowed them pass through centre arch of bargate. during worldwarii, southamptons trams parked overnight in sidings on common instead of in terminus buildings located around city. 1942 painted battleship grey. because of precautions, 1 tram lost enemy bombing. tram system did not extend far eastern part of city, passing on river itchen , cobden bridge , connecting bitterne railway station. suburbs newly incorporated town in 1920 served buses instead of trams. southampton s trams gradually taken out of service during 1948 , 1949, final tram running on 31 december 1949.

1954 guy arab in southampton corporation livery


buses

southamptons trams superseded fleet of diesel engined buses, though buses had been in service in parts of city not serviced trams. surviving buses dating 1949 looked after southampton & district transport heritage trust.

railways

the railway arrived in southampton in 1839 first permanent station southampton terminus situated near canute road. originally, trains terminated @ temporary structure @ northam. in 1847, southampton terminus linked dorchester via southampton , dorchester railway , in 1866 extended additional line served netley , later netley hospital. on 2 september 1889, extension fareham opened , become southampton fareham line.

the didcot, newbury , southampton railway intended run on separate competing route winchester new station north of royal pier. deposited plans show route entering town winchester via tunnel in chilworth near current chilworth arms public house before passing through lordswood , running down east side of dale valley. here pass under winchester road, running east of current st james park, southampton through land occupied shirley junior school, run south east close current wilton road cross east of hill lane near archers road. construction of embankment , viaduct commenced east of hill lane before scheme abandoned. dell subsequently built on part of cleared land between archers road , milton road , unused embankment remains behind properties east of hill lane between milton road , commercial road. line connected existing london , south western railway route @ shawford junction south of winchester in 1891, , separate line southampton never built.

in 1892, london , south western railway company purchased southampton docks. 1897, existing southampton terminus, south western hotel, large goods yard , turntable had been established, railway lines running across canute road , every corner of docks. interaction between trains , other traffic controlled men red flags. close relationship between docks , railways allowed specialist boat train services developed connected transatlantic liners, trains terminating @ full-length platforms housed within ocean terminal. trains ran directly on royal pier connect ferry services portsmouth, ryde , cowes. nearby cattle market served railway. decline of transatlantic passenger liners in favour of quicker air routes, development of southampton container terminal, transferred dock traffic millbrook , electrification of south western main line london, affected economics of |southampton terminus. passenger services ceased on 9 september 1966 terminus continued used parcels until march 1968. southampton central, southampton west, main railway station southampton.