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Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Freshwater, Nov 12, 2013.

  1. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    Hardly as there is a connecting bus from Portsmouth Harbour to the hovercraft terminal.
     
  2. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    It's still an extra change though, so extra potential waiting/another timetable to consult. Given a choice of bus-hovercraft-bus or ferry-train, the latter looks more appealing to me, especially as buses tend to be more unreliable to track on apps and the like for irregulars. Even though on its own terms I'd prefer a hovercraft over a ferry.
     
  3. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    In practice there are no problems. The operators of the catamaran seemed rather sluggish in getting it back in service after the first lockdown ended, so you would have had no option anyway.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2020
  4. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'm just saying how it would appear to normals planning a day out.
     
  5. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    People tend to go for the easiest option, and if travelling by train, thats train to Portsmouth Harbour, then the fast cat to Ryde, why get off the train, then wait outside the station, for the hovertravel bus, go to Southsea, wait again for your crossing time, then board the hovercraft, travel over to Ryde, board a bus, to Wotton, then wait for the train, compared to a short wait, at Pier head, under cove( the bus stop isn't ) its at the hard, not the interchange, then board the ferry, get off at Ryde, then you can either catch the train down the pier, or if its a later train , travel direct to Small brook . or if its a nice day, walk down the pier, spend some time in Ryde, before catching a train to Smallbrook.
     
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  6. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    But, as happened to me, if a train refuses to wait a bare minute for a delayed boat, leaving passengers no option but to walk down Britain's second longest pier in drenching rain? Result. a severe cold which took weeks to shake off and an abiding impression of disinterested "service".
     
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  7. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Ah, that explains it, you missed a train once, so therefore it is the lesser mode of transport. ;) you do make me laugh sometimes Paul!

    For the record I missed the hovercraft once and had to wait half an hour, although I suppose that was just my gricerish tendencies showing through...
     
  8. Penrhynfan

    Penrhynfan New Member

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    When travelling the island with 3 friends ("Normals!") on holiday, we much preferred the ferry. The hovercraft was just too much like a London commuter train: crowded, stuffy and even noisier. The ferry was much more relaxed plus the opportunity for fresh Solent fresh air and the sights. Getting near the front of the queue for a cuppa was essential though.
     
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  9. Andy Moody

    Andy Moody Member

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    Whats all this got to do with the Isle of Wight steam railway?
     
  10. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    Plus other cases, not involving poor customer care, where high winds coinciding with spring tides stopped trains using the pier.
     
  11. ady

    ady Well-Known Member

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    Away from the 'Ryde' topic (I thought it better to stay as they are because I hate for the atmosphere they currently have to change)... I see 'Calbourne' is coming back together, she's looking good. I can't work out why I didn't like 'malachite' green in the pass its starting to grow on me in a big way...
     
  12. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    With news that the LTTG have now been officially offered a class 483, is there any news if the IOWSR are getting one?
     
  13. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Is this a cry for help having spilled a pot on yourself?
     
  14. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    nothings been confirmed yet, but the talk is that the IOWSR might be getting the unit thats just been overhauled 007? is i understand of the three in working order, ones going to Ongar, one to Brading, for display in the island platform, and one's going to Havenstreet,
     
  15. QuornYard

    QuornYard New Member

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    Ditto the hovercraft and lack of joined up service with Island Line - I've arrived on the hovercraft from Portsmouth, jogged over the footbridge at Ryde only to watch the train depart before I got anywhere near. Having said that when I've been in Portsmouth a trip on the hovercraft and down to Shanklin and back has made a quirky and enjoyable evening out.
     
  16. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    used to happen on the Bluebell with the bus link from East Grinstead.
    Bus set off 5 minutes before the arrival from Victoria.
     
  17. ady

    ady Well-Known Member

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    no... I prefer depressive grey...
     
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  18. Whacky

    Whacky New Member

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    If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, there is an hourly bus to Rowlands Corner from Ryde, then a mile down the hill to the station at Havenstreet.
     
  19. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    Sadly, this road is entirely innocent of pavements.
     
  20. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I daresay the knock-on timetabling issues caused by the single line operations these days don't help one little bit, but if there's one surefire way to ensure a first time visitor doesn't want a repeat of such an experience, that's just got to be right at the top of anyone's list.
     
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