The Mid-Hants Railway (MHR) originated when local people promoted a railway line between Alton and a junction near Winchester, connected to the larger London and South Western Railway at each end. It was authorised as the Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway in 1861, and changed its name to the Mid-Hants Railway in 1865. It was opened for traffic in 1865. It was a single track 18 miles long, and had some very steep gradients. It had been unable to raise much share capital and it was heavily indebted from the outset, incurring heavy interest outlays.
The MHR was dependent on the LSWR to operate its line, but there was constant antagonism between the two companies, as the MHR felt that the LSWR ought to do more to bring traffic to the line; this included the wish that the LSWR would divert main line expresses over the MHR. The MHR talked of operating the line itself, but its massive indebtedness, and its operational dependency on the LSWR at Alton and Winchester, made this impractical. A long lease to the LSWR was agreed in 1880 and the business was sold to the LSWR in 1884.
Electric trains from London were able to reach Alton in 1937, and passenger trains were only shuttle services from Alton, but the introduction of diesel trains on a frequent timetable in 1957 improved the meagre passenger business. Nevertheless the passenger and goods use of the line was unsustainable and the line closed in 1973. A heritage operator, the Watercress Line, works trains on the line between Alton and Alresford.
