name to become the Mid­-Hants Railway Company (MHR) When the matter was considered in Parliament, however the new line was cut back to run only from Ropley to Meonstoke. The name changed, and this stub were passed in the Act of 29 July 1864, effective from 1 January 1865, with extra capital powers of £25,000. The Meonstoke line was never built and no capital was ever raised for it; it was formally abandoned by Board of Trade Warrant of 29 October 1869. Opening; and difficult relations with the LSWR Expecting soon to open its original line between Alton and Winchester, the company made a ten year working agreement with the LSWR on 17 February 1865. The line had to be "at least as substantial and complete in all respects as the Portsmouth Railway (Godalming to Havant)" of the LSWR, and if traffic justified it, the MHR was to double the line. The LSWR was to stock, staff and work the line, but the MHR would appoint the secretary and office staff except booking clerks. The LSWR would receive 42.5% of gross receipts until the MHR was able to pay dividends of 4%, when the LSWR could take 45%. The LSWR built a new through station at Alton; the old terminus station buildings were converted to house the stationmaster. The single line between Alton and Winchester Junction opened to the public on 2 October 1865, with one goods and four passenger trains each way on weekdays only; some of the passenger trains were LSWR Guildford to Alton trains extended to Southampton. While earthworks settled, trains covered the 19 miles between Alton and Winchester in one hour, but from 1 August 1866 the fastest journey was 47min. Journeys from Southampton to London using the line via Guildford were now possible, but slow; a typical journey time was 3 hours 26 minutes compared with 2 hours 18 minutes via Basingstoke. There were already clear signs of tension between the LSWR and the MHR company; this was illustrated when MHR directors asked for free passes over the LSWR between London and Alton, Winchester and Southampton. The LSWR told them that as a matter of right they were not entitled to travel free on the line now that it was leased. In January 1866 the MHR complained repeatedly that the LSWR was not operating the railway to achieve best results. Average receipts for the operation