This section of the line passes down the west side of the island, passing through where North Hayling station used to stand, and terminates at West Town, the main area of population in the south of the island.
Work continued through 2002 and into 2003 and the line finally opened to passengers on 5 July 2003, re-christened as "The Hayling Seaside Railway".
Some of the many characters who are named after places in the vicinity of Emsworth include Lord Emsworth's heir, Viscount Bosham, Lady Anne Warblington, Lord Stockheath, the Duchess of Havant (in A Gentleman of Leisure), and Lord Arthur Hayling (in The Prince and Betty).
The two most notable singles, "Hayling" and "Machine Says Yes", were co-written and sung by Icelandic singer Hafdís Huld and charted at No. 49 and No. 58 respectively on the UK Singles Chart.
Since 2005, The Hayling College has been the location of the home ground of Hayling United F.C. The football club use the school's playing fields as their ground, and have developed the site to include a seated stand, a covered standing area, boundary fences, pitch fences and floodlights, making it a Grade F ground, suitable for Step 5 of the football league pyramid.