A history of Fareham railway station and how it came to be

Fareham Railway Station, a creation of the renowned Thomas Brassey, stands at the crossroads of West Street and The Avenue.

Opened in 1841, the line faced an early hurdle when the tunnel was deemed unsafe just four days later.

It wasn't until February 1842 that the line reopened, and its safety concerns were addressed.

The original line, a straight shot from Eastleigh to Gosport, marked the station's humble beginnings.

Fareham Station in 1915. (Image: Echo)

The extension to Portsmouth in 1848 brought with it a remarkable feat of engineering: Fareham's seventeen-arch viaduct, a graceful structure carrying trains across the creek. In 1889, the line stretched further westwards, reaching Netley and connecting with the Southampton to Netley line.

Over time, Fareham's importance grew, with new lines weaving their way towards Southampton, Portsmouth, and even the coastal stretches towards Brighton.

These later additions, now the lifeblood of the station, brought with them a touch of complexity. A sharp curve towards Portsmouth and a gentler one towards Southampton emerged, a reminder of the challenges of expansion.

Today, a 20 mph speed limit safeguards the area, providing a delicate balance between progress and preservation.

The original line, now a solitary track piercing through Fareham Tunnel towards Eastleigh and London, retains its original straightness.

The same can be said for the former Gosport route, though it bid farewell to passengers in 1953.

The day the viaduct opened. (Image: Echo)

Yet, the tracks remain a whisper of the past, with much of the route cleared for a potential Fareham to Gosport express link in the future.

Fareham's railway history is not without its intriguing twists. A line once snaked its way towards Alton via the picturesque Meon Valley, branching off from the Eastleigh route at Knowle, north of the tunnel.

Built as a high-speed route to the Isle of Wight, it harks back to a time when Stokes Bay, not Portsmouth Harbour, was the main ferry gateway to the island.

This line, too, saw its passenger services fade into history in 1955.

The dawn of the 21st century brought with it a wave of modernisation. A new footbridge and lifts grace the north end of the station, ensuring accessibility for all.

The station's transformation extended beyond accessibility. The ticket office was reborn, complete with a new platform entrance at the south end of the corridor. Ticket barriers were installed, and a new shop emerged.

Even the tracks themselves underwent renewal. In October 2016, nine sets of points and 240 meters of track were replaced.