[2] The problems were exacerbated by the choice of a small contractor over the more well established and more experienced options in order to save money.

[2] The line continued to be used by stone trains from the Mendip area to and from Botley as well as other freight services, as well as weekend diversions of passenger traffic.

[2] A £10 million plan was put forward in 1999 to reopen Southampton Terminus and Northam, which was to have been controlled by East Anglia Railways Train Company, their plans included building a new rail-link using the current remaining track by St. Marys Stadium and as far as the Waterfront, which is now safe guarded by Southampton City Council for future rail links.

It was also hoped it would reduce the traffic around Southampton with a local commuter line linking the Waterfront to Romsey, Halterworth and Chandler's Ford, but the plan failed to come about for reasons unknown.

[5] For much of the route, the line runs close to the Monks Brook; north-east of Chandler's Ford, it crosses the edge of the Trodds Copse Site of Special Scientific Interest.