Train Simulator: Portsmouth Direct Line: London Waterloo - Portsmouth Route Add-On Steam DLC

In the early 1830s, the link between London and the south western docks of England was sub-par, and proposals for a railway connection were put forward by multiple companies. Two ports were shortlisted for receiving rails first, Portsmouth and Southampton, the latter would be chosen owing to its under-developed state in comparison Portsmouth’s established naval background.Between 1838 and 1840, the Southampton, London & Branch Railway and Docks Company laid their new route. The new railway was not entirely direct as further extensions were proposed towards Bristol, but the Great Western Railway established a better connection before this could be made a reality. Despite all this, the line to Southampton was a success, and the ‘SL&BRDC’ renamed itself to become the London and Southampton Railway, and soon after that the London & South Western Railway.With Southampton reached by rail, attention turned to Portsmouth, however the L&SR proposed a branch line from Eastleigh, formerly Bishopstoke, and the Portsmouth Corporation were heavily opposed to such an in-direct route from London. Despite the resistance, the branch line would be built anyway. This put Portsmouth on the railway map, but not in a way that many were hoping for.It wasn’t until another branch was opened that things started looking up, the line out of London passed through the town of Woking, situated just over 5 miles north of the industrious town of Guildford, and a rail connection between the two towns was consi