Steaming back into Ryde?

The frontpage of the Isle of Wight Country Press has declared that 'Steam trains could return to Ryde within the next decade'

- Top-level discussions have been taking place between the government and the local MP for the past year 'which could result in the transfer of the Island Line franchise from South West Trains to the Island community and run by a social enterprise partnership'.

- In February the local MP and Council Leader will meet with Claire Perry, and on the agenda will be creating an Island Line Task Force, largely paid for by the DfT, with the aim of securing the line's future.

- Also under discussion are 'radical plans' which could see the 1938 stock replaced with diesel trains and the third rail removed, which could supposedly allow steam trains back into Ryde Esplanade (though they would be too heavy for the pier)

- The IWSR's general manager is reported as supporting the return of steam to Esplanade 'in principle' but said getting to Ryde St John's Road was a more realistic aim.

- Funding would come from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.

Though they may be pursuing this with the best of intentions, it's concerning that the IWSR don't appear to be at the heart of these discussions - if they were I can't imagine there would be any talk of Esplanade which really doesn't make much sense. The changes to Island Line strike me as somewhat unwise too, Diesel stock seems a backwards step with few options available.

Chris

 

Odd really and I agree a backward step.

 

Was there any talk over the line on the pier as in 2012 when I was last over there this came under discussion about the IWSR taking over the line but many millions were needed to be spent on the pier in repairs. Sounds a good idea but will it work.

 

We must get cracking to restore a few more coaches

There is much going on behind the scenes, the discussions do very much involve the IOWSR. Getting rid of the third rail is a very sensible course of action IMHO, much simpler to use diesel units (Speaking as an Ex BR fitter). One of the main alterations required would be changing the platform heights back for Mainline stock, which of course gives the advantage of compatibility with the Steam Railways stock.

Could be exciting times ahead for the Islands Railways

 

Couple of engines they will need http://bodminrailway.co.uk/stock/moreinfo/6 http://bodminrailway.co.uk/stock/moreinfo/7 http://www.brc-stockbook.co.uk/1900.htm

But the coaches might be a problem for the tunnel.

 

The tunnel has not been a problem for a number of years, as it had major work carried out, it is passed for class 150 and 158!

That is why the General Manager talks of trains to Ryde Esplanade.

 

So is this where the Pacers will end up?

 

Please NO! That would be the death of the Island Railway

 

So you will have to step up the "Pace" on the coach renovation then !!!! and send the Pacers further south to France.

 

And I thought that you like 4wh coaches, especially with air brakes!

 

It's hard to see either being available in the foreseeable future, but if I understand former staff on the SEMG yahoo group correctly they would be too long anyway - apparently the sharp reverse-curve restricts vehicle length quite severely?

 

I believe that it is just Ryde tunnel that is passed for 150 and 158, the rest of the line may have other restrictions. I would have thought that with the previous proposal many years ago to use ex Merseyside 503 units that the 150s would be reasonably gauge friendly. I have no idea which type of units are being proposed (just hope it is not pacers)

 

http://www.vivarail.co.uk/vivarail-d-train/ Just a thought

 

Was this connected to the work done to the roof? I can understand sufficient headroom being provided as part of the work, perhaps giving the impression that mainland designs would fit, but it does surprise me that they'd go to the bother of actually gauging the entire tunnel.

As for the 503s, these unusually had 17-17.5m bodies more akin to tube stock than the standard 20/23m mainline designs - however even that involved singling and slewing the track through the tunnel IIRC.

As for what's being proposed now, the only half-sensible option I can think of is those London Underground D Stock trains fitted with Ford Transit engines currently being touted for replacing Pacers.

Chris

 

The County Press and other local groups/individuals have been more than happy to commit the IWSR to numerous expansion schemes over the years, at least this time its not suggested we take on the whole Island Line operation! The GM's response is sensible and fairly neutral.

My personal view on any extension of the current IWSR is that there is no solid business case unless the Island Line ceases to exist and we lose the Smallbrook interchange. It may then be worth extending to Ryde St Johns Road, where we still have a chance to pick up passengers. Any extension will result in increased running costs, requirement for more carriages and working locomotives, possibly a greater number of two-train service days, more staff - and could we charge any more than we already do?

If this proposal is for occasional special runs to one of the Ryde stations then fair enough, my assumption being that someone else other than the IWSR picks up the bill for any infra work that may be needed.

I am bit of a cynic about such schemes, from Vectrail (1960s) onwards there has been much talk (often from people who speak in a loud voice that means nothing!) and little action. Not holding my breath!

 

Worth a look is the IWSR's Strategic Vision document, last updated 2013. To quote from it:

' Ryde St. John’s Road

We are actively pursuing the opportunity to extend our operations into Ryde St. John’s Road station and, if this becomes possible, will seek to maximise the commercial and other opportunities it may provide. We acknowledge that any such extension may radically alter our operations and may trigger a review of this document'.

I believe that an extension, as opposed to occasional running, is only going to be viable if the circumstances more or less force us into it. There is quite a lot of risk involved and it's something that cannot not be undertaken lightly.

Although there is some work obviously going on to secure the future of Island Line, it's stories like this (and a Solent Fixed Link) that sell the County Press!

 

We may be looking at a consolidation of transport on the Island.

Tf IOW sort of thing.. To re-generate the island the council will have to resurrect the railways.

 

This is just the sort of comment to provoke groans of exasperation from IOWSR management and was anticipated by "Islander" earlier on. Do you have any idea how much the Ryde to Shanklin line loses each year? This is before the enormous expenditure required on renovation. It will take some doing to raise the funding whatever scheme is decided upon.

Meanwhile the council will "have to resurrect the railways". No it won't and even the most light thinking of the general public won't want it to if the cost falls on them, especially if they live somewhere which doesn't benefit. You would be of much more help in pressing for refurbishment of the existing section without gaining the reputation of a hopeless romantic.

PH

 

Seriously? I rather suspect that the economics and politics of running an integrated transport service in London (8,000,000 population and 73 MPs all desperate to pour money without limit into transport schemes) is rather different from running an integrated transport scheme in an island with 140,000 population and a Parliamentary lobbying power of precisely 1!

Tom

 

At which point, a comparison across the fence at Smallbrook Junction would demonstrate that the march of history is not always in a positive direction!

Tom