Watercress Line

Mid-Hants Railway
Watercress Line
Watercress line steam train at Ropley station
Locale	Hampshire, United Kingdom
Connections	Network Rail track at Alton
Commercial operations
Name	Mid-Hants Railway
Built by	Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway Company
Original gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge etc
Preserved operations
Operated by	Mid-Hants Railway Ltd
Stations	4
Length	10 miles (16 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened	2 October 1865
Closed	5 February 1973
Preservation history
1975	Line purchased from British Rail
1977	Re-opened between Alresford and Ropley
1983	Re-opened to Medstead and Four Marks
1985	Re-opened to Alton
Headquarters	Alresford
Website
www.watercressline.co.uk

v t e Watercress Line
Legend
Alton line to Brookwood Alton Meon Valley Passing loop Basingstoke & Alton Light Railway to Basingstoke Meon Valley Railway to Fareham Boyneswood Bridge (summit of line) Medstead and Four Marks Ropley motive power depot Ropley Alresford Alresford sidings (end of line) Itchen Abbas M3 built over trackbed Winchester South West Main Line to London Waterloo & Weymouth Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway to Newbury

The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway, a heritage railway in Hampshire, England, running 10 miles (16 km) from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the National Rail network. The line gained its popular name in the days when it was used to transport locally grown watercress to markets in London. The railway currently operates regular scheduled services, along with dining trains, real ale trains and numerous special events throughout the year.