This area of the south coast of England has long been a popular ‘hotspot’ for enthusiasts to sample the variety of traffic on offer on today’s railway. The area is home to one of the UK’s most significant ports as well as railway workshops that continue to see a variety of uses despite mounting competition from overseas. Interest is sustained by virtue of both Freightliner’s base on the outskirts of Southampton and GB Railfreight’s recent takeover of the yard at Eastleigh. In addition, both DB Cargo and Colas Rail locos are regular visitors to the area. In Trains Around Eastleigh and Southampton, John Jackson takes a look at the variety of traffic passing through the area. The freight traffic for both the railway industry’s external customers and its own Network Rail use is included. This area of Hampshire also serves as an important commuter catchment area for London and a popular destination for rail travel for leisure purposes. The modern-day rail picture is completed with a look at these passenger services operated by South Western Railway, Southern and Cross Country.

'This book paints an excellent picture of what can be seen on a visit to the area.' * Model Rail Magazine, September 2023 *

John Jackson, a lifelong transport enthusiast, opted for early retirement at the turn of the Millennium – and swapped the rat race for the rail tracks. Since then, he has travelled extensively on the British rail network with his camera as a constant companion. He continues to compile a photographic collection reflecting the UK rail industry that already extends to tens of thousands of images. He also has an interest in the history of his local county of Bedfordshire and John and his wife Jenny, together with their trusty cameras, have spent hundreds of hours meandering around their home county visiting each one of the parishes in the county, recording the churches.