Good News For Southampton Apt?
 

Just heard on the local news that the old railway works at Eastleigh are to close down. Bad news for the workforce, but does this give the BAA an opportunity to purchase additional land and lengthen the runway, or does the New Eastleigh works still prevent this?

With a slightly longer runway Southampton would increase its route options and see off Bournemouth with ease.

However, between Eastleigh railway works (which is owned by Alsthom), there is a housing estate & another railway yard & train service depot (owned by English, Scottish & Welsh railway) so no chance of the runway being extended.

WNC

I don't remember it that way wnc. The line which used to have steam engines waiting to be accepted for service is right up against the airport perimeter fence, and it was like that 1n 2001 for sure.

Can anyone link me to an article about the works shutting down

Thanks

when you said good news i thought you meant aviance were getting chucked out, lets face it there crap

AH
You'll find it on the BBC News Web Site.

Possibly good news for Southamptons Airport, but not much of a Christmas present for the 480 people who will lose their jobs as a result of the closure.:rolleyes:

Surely not,
The line up against the fence isn't the works, it's only a stabling point/servicing depot. The works is adjacent to the Portsmouth line. In between the works & the depot there is a small housing estate.

The depot which shares its boundary with the airport is owned by EWSR whilst, as mentioned in the BBC, the works (which is to close) is owned by Alsthom. EWSR have no plans to close its servicing depot at Eastleigh which means no runway extension.

WNC

However if they knock down a couple of Alstoms sheds then install some extra approach lighting, SOU's ILS may be able to get a full CAT either 1 or 2

good news for southampton
 

Well said niknak. As an ex miner I really feel for the 480.

we never change is spot on with regards to the location of the Alsthom works. However even if land was made available, I believe there are local council agreements that currently prevent the extension of the runway. I'm sure these could possibly be renegotiated, but not without considerable local opposition I'm sure.

If it came to a decision between the two options, would the BAA push for a runway extension or extra apron/development space on the airfield?

The runway is just about long enough to take the majority of aircraft which will meet the demand that the airport caters for, both now and in the long term future, another 100m or so isn't essential and would be very expensive - but would be gratefully accepted by the operators.

Extra parking space etc on the airport would enable the BAA to cater for more aircraft at anyone time, and also see the squeeze on charter and GA operators loosened, all of which leads to more revenue for the airport.

Its ironic that when it comes to swaying the anti airport lobby, they almost always have little to say about extra apron/development space at an airport, but try and lengthen the runway and they come out of the woodwork to protest.

Apron space, without a doubt. That, and possibly car parking, are the main limiting factors of the airport at present I believe. Seeing aircraft parked on the taxiway overnight, when I drive in to get my regular morning flights up to Manchester, says it all!

They have just started work on the Departure lounge (viewing gallery has been taken away to accomodate), so that will help the Terminal. Check in is probably in need of expansion too, but apron space would have to be the priority. Having said that, the new hand baggage only check in for FlyBE is wonderful.

Is there any space on the southside of the runway for expansion?

WNC

I think you mean EASTern side as to the immediate South there is the M27!!

For the Brits,how long of a flight is LHR to Southhampton? I drove it about 3 months ago and I think it took about three hours. Is that fast ,slow, or about average?

Also I ended up in a small suburb of Southhampton and I can't remember the name. It was close to where the docks are. This town had a small fishing pier or walking pier and was at the end of a small winding street that was fairly steep. There were no large motels/hotels in it and part of the main street was blocked off for pedestrians. A mile or so west there was a Best Western with construction going on in its backyard. I did not see it until I had checked in the 20 room B and B run by a Scottish or Irish woman.

They only had one serious English pub it appeared to be a "do it yourself" and no one left the bar. It was all guys and had a restaurant upstars. Not exactly like one dreams about in a LHR pub filled with georgeous women!

Anyway, does anybody know the small city?I'm guessing it was within 10 miles of Southhampton and I continued westward. I eventually got to Land's End that I had always wanted to see since I had flown over it

I also was impressed because there was not a lot to see in the inland part of England. I would guess that this was the least travelled and lest populated part of England. It was a very windy and cold day at Land's End. It was worth the trip to know I reached the End.

Mike....I did do some zigging and zagging and I did go fairly fast.

Now that I think about it, getting out of LHR can be back and there was some bumper to bumper traffic.

Was that 66 Nautical or Statute and was that the direct routing!!!!???

I also forgot to add that these people were all driving on the wrong side of the road,but I just ignored them......

I should have said that the police stopped me about 6 times and asked what was my favorite planet.

Theres a lot of people dreaming at Southampton.

The terminal was a mess from the start built the wrong way round and so small.

The land for the post offcice should have never been sold off for post office and industrial use. I know it was privately owned by that was the biggest downfall of the airport.
(You could imagine the terminal at the Mercedes garage and the whole lenth a nice long ramp, for lots of planes, then wake up)

They have the railway and the motorway but thats all they have in their favour.

Just hope Bournemouth Builds their Big Terminal soon.

I've been to that place you mention, Jim. Small winding road down a steep hill to a marina - just outside Southampton. Can't remember its name.

I'm amazed you didn't find anything worth seeing "inland" - you must have missed the heaps of ancient towns, Cathedrals, castles & countryside!

Demolition of the sheds would remove a significant obstacle and permit better operability of the existing runway.

Sir George Cayley

Do you mean Lymington, Jim?

Daniel