The former Breamore Railway Line
The former Breamore Railway Line
***Project update***
The works will include taking samples of the road to understand condition and materials.
- Date: Thursday 23 July for one day
- Traffic management: temporary road closure at Salisbury Road / Fryern Court Road junction
Further information about the crossing can be found in the attached briefing document.
- Hampshire County Council A338 Road Crossing Briefing Document 15 July 2026 View
History of the line
Opened on 20 December 1866, 19 miles of single track were constructed improving links between Salisbury and Wimborne. The line stretched from Alderbury Junction (between Salisbury and Dean) to West Moors and served stations at Downton, Breamore, Fordingbridge, Daggons Road, and Verwood, and for much of its length followed the River Avon along the western edge of the New Forest. As with local trains on the adjoining line from Brockenhurst, the usual destination was Bournemouth West.
However, the line didn’t perform well financially and its directors continually pressed to improve the train service and make better through passenger journeys possible. The the line remained of local significance only and things didn’t improve, with it deemed financially unviable and closed as part of the Beeching cuts. The last train departed in May 1964.
The current project enhancing the former line at Breamore focusses on a roughly two-mile section of dismantled railway running through the parishes of Breamore and Fordingbridge between South Charford and Burgate Cross. This was initially purchased by Hampshire County Council in 1971 to create a bypass around the village of Breamore but the project was abandoned in the 2000s and in 2006 the land was transferred to the Countryside team at HCC.
In December 2023, the county council won a bid to implement the “long-term aspiration” to formalise public access along the railway after New Forest District Council made Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money available. The dedication covers the entire width of the line, which ranges from 5.5 meters at the narrow section between the platforms at Breamore Station to 20 meters at its widest point.
Early discussions about the former Breamore Railway Line touched on the potential for dedicating bridleway rights, however the absence of suitable off-road connections for equestrians at both ends of the line makes it more fitting to formally dedicate only footpath rights at this time. Therefore, the county council approved transforming the disused railway line into a public footpath with permissive cycling rights.
What has been achieved so far?
The first year of the project focused on securing the relevant permits and carrying out ecological and structural investigations along the section of the former railway line at Breamore.
Now, the project has progressed to reinforcing historical culverts, replacing two bridges, carrying out tree works to remove trees with ash die back and those that had become unsafe, and working with contractors to begin levelling and surfacing the path.
The project requires heavy machinery to be on site, and for this reason the path is currently closed to the public. Updates of when the path will reopen will be found on this webpage.
- 11 culverts cleared
- A new bridge installed
- Vegetation management to reinstate footpath
- Surveying for wildlife, including butterflies
Public engagement
Members of the team working to bring nature and heritage improvements to the former Breamore Railway Line have taken opportunities to speak with members of the public inviting them onto the line for events and to open mornings and evenings to learn about plans, and input into the project.
- Three public open mornings and evenings
- Guided walk on the line as part of the New Forest Walking Festival
- Volunteer and training opportunities
- Distributing literature and updates
About the former Breamore Railway Line project
Work on the former Breamore Railway Line is backed by the National Grid as part of a Landscape Enhancement Initiative grant to mitigate the impact of high voltage power lines in England and Wales. National Landscape Partnerships and National Park Authorities that have transmission lines running through them are eligible to apply for funding. Projects must be within 3km of power lines and applicants must provide evidence that the project will be sufficient in providing mitigation, and ideally present other benefits such as providing environmental and heritage improvements.
High voltage electricity infrastructure runs over the Breamore Railway Line, making it eligible for funding. Because of this, the New Forest National Park Authority partnered with Hampshire County Council for an ambitious project providing visual mitigation for the pylons and enhancing heritage features, improving habitats, and improving access by creating a path that will be useable year-round and that is designed to withstand flood events.