REPAINTED and named electric trains will soon be rattling up and down the Lymington to Brockenhurst railway line.

And there is a chance they will be stopping at a reopened Ampress Halt to get patients, visitors and staff to the new £36 million Lymington New Forest Hospital when it opens at the end of 2006.

Network Rail is to use two elderly slam-door Mark I electric units on the line. One will be in British Railways Southern Region green and the other in British Rail blue.

The use of slam-door stock will make the line unique in the UK, though special locks may have to be fitted to overcome safety issues.

Lymington town councillor Adrian Evans said the two trains, of the type used at the start of electrification of the branch in the early 1970s, are currently being prepared.

"They are being serviced at this time and are being taken back to their original liveries and the station will be painted in its original colours," said Cllr Evans.

Like others, he was worried about rumours the rail link between the Isle of Wight ferry terminal and Lymington Town station with the main Weymouth to Waterloo line was to be closed.

But at the annual town meeting recently, Southampton to Weymouth group manager Phil Donnelly scotched those rumours. Cllr Evans was relieved.

"I've been a bit worried about losing that line. I see it as a vital link to the town," he said.

He quizzed Mr Donnelly about the possibility of steam trains using the branch in the future and was told it was possible but would have to fit in with existing services because signalling only allows one train on the line at a time.

"I thought that if they had steam trains coming down there it would bring a hell of a lot of people into the town. Perhaps on six Saturdays during the summer," said Cllr Evans.

He was particularly encouraged to hear about possibility of Ampress Halt, built especially for workers at the old Wellworthy factory, being reopened, though there are problems with access.

"If it can be done then I think it would be of benefit to the hospital and to the town," said Mr Evans.

Network Rail wants suggestions for appropriate names for the two trains.

Lymington mayor Cllr Jane Clarke said it was "very gratifying" to know that the line was to stay open.

She was also pleased that Ampress Halt could once again be used by passengers. "They said they would look into it and we certainly, as a town, are very keen on it."

The council also asked if connections at Brockenhurst with Bournemouth-bound and Waterloo trains could be "tightened up".

Names proposed by people at the meeting included "The Lymington Flyer" she said.

"We're really chuffed that it has come off. It will be superb to save the line."

First published: April 5