Isle of Wight Steam Railway

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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".

 

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...

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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...

 

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

 

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

 

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,

 

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.

 

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

 

no... I prefer depressive grey...

 

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.

 

Sadly, this road is entirely innocent of pavements.

 

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.