Hello there,
This is my first post so I had better introduce myself.
I am not a regular user of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) but I love to travel by rail and I live near Andover. I volunteer at Didcot on 1014 (hence the name) and look forward to seeing her on the ex. GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)!
With reference to the Ludgershall to andover line (ex MSW Cheltenham to Southampton) rumour has it that together with shrinkage of army camps big movements are in hand for the repatriation of troops and vehicles from Afghanistan.
I believe that together with Ashchurch Ludgershall is closing and all the vehicles are going to Lyneham. The real estate is to be used for married quarters for the new super garrison at Tidworth. This means that the line will no longer be needed and indeed will get in the way of any development. So on the one hand the line will become obsolete and on the other the population will expand by 2-3000 so the line could become even more useful as a commuter line into Andover. This means of course that the bus company will not want competition. Food for thought!