Return to Newport

[Tim Dubya]

Spotted this:

 

[Joseph_Pestell]

You might think that the local MP would have a better idea of the current geography of the island. Rather a lot built in Newport since the railway closed.

[Zomboid]

No reason why it would have to follow the original route or have the station in the original place.

Though let's not get too excited just yet. St Johns I can believe happening at some point more easily than Newport.

[JJGraphics]

You might think that the local MP would have a better idea of the current geography of the island. Rather a lot built in Newport since the railway closed.

 

 

Do MPs have any idea about anything?

[Coryton]

Do MPs have any idea about anything?

 

Sometimes, yes they certainly do.

 

But perhaps not often enough.

[JJGraphics]

Sometimes, yes they certainly do.

 

But perhaps not often enough.

 

 

DEFINITELY not often enough!

[roythebus]

the proposal is just that. There's a few reasons the line was originally abandoned, the main one being the landslip at Wooton. the original station some 50m beyond the current station and the opposite side of the road was in a cutting which had a horrible wet clay sub-base which is always moving. For years the railway companies have tried to stabilise the slip but it was a very expensive process.

 

During the early years of the Wight Locomotive Society various suggestions were mooted, including getting the Royal Engineers in to tackle the problem. The decision was taken to abandon the original formation and build a new station where it now stands. 

 

So, any extension to Newport would have to be either on a new alignment or involve extremely expensive earthworks to regain the original line of route. As we know from the Bluebell with Imberhorne, nothing is impossible that a few £million won't solve. But then where would the line terminate in Newport? Would it ever attract a sufficient number of additional passenger journeys to make it worthwhile? somehow I doubt it.

 

As it stands the IWSR whilst not struggling with stock at the moment runs at capacity at times; further extensions to ryde may not be a problem, but to Newport would I suspect involve another set of coaches which as yet don't exist in a usable form. Remember too the Island has a tight loading gauge so Mk1 stock can't easily be used, and certainly not longer than 57'.

[Bluebell Model Railway]

There's been various plans over the years to extend railways, I can sort of understand the Newport extension, it won't be on the same site, more down on the Quay which is supposed regenerate that area, there was a meeting on what he would like to see... extending to Ventnor... Newport... at Shanklin theatre sadly I missed it.
Problem is we have bigger issues rather than extending the lines... like the very tired 1938 tube stock... or the state of the track work its a bit stuck in the past..

Anyway I will believe it when I see it.
 

[Zomboid]

Might as well go the whole way and reopen it as part of the island line, and transplant the IWSR to the old Sandown to Merstone route or something.

It's probably just as likely...

[Christopher125]

You might think that the local MP would have a better idea of the current geography of the island. Rather a lot built in Newport since the railway closed.

 

Back in 2001 consultants produced a report for the Council about the Island's Railways - available here - which identified a route much nearer the river, terminating at the Harbour.

 

This and other issues discusses at the recent meeting in Shanklin can be found in the presentation below: 

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/kilfcampaign/1899887856993331/

[roythebus]

 

Back in 2001 consultants produced a report for the Council about the Island's Railways - available here - which identified a route much nearer the river, terminating at the Harbour.

 

This and other issues discusses at the recent meeting in Shanklin can be found in the presentation below: 

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/kilfcampaign/1899887856993331/

 

An interesting study there. There's a lot of fairly modern electric trams available as the fist series of Manchester cars have been replaced, the same will probably apply to the Newscastle metro and other trams, maybe the Croydon fleet too. Maybe worth re-visiting this study.

[AMJ]

If the politicians on the island are as good as the ones we have in Leeds they will end up spending much money and time on committee and reports before doing some preliminary work. Then it will get cancelled.

[IWCR]

Political  talk  only  following  the  Government  talk  about  reversing  some  Beeching  Cuts.

Note:  this  was  about  SOME  routes,  not  a  free  for  all  and  was  intended  to  encourage  local  councils  etc.

 

The  Isle  of  Wight  Council  (like  many)  has  no  money  to  even  contribute  for  anything  like  this

Some  years ago  a  report  was  produced  looking at  both  Ventnor and  Newport  reopening  as  part  of  Island  line.

The  conclusion  was  that  Newport  would  cover  operating  costs,  Ventnor  probably  not. 

Little  if  any  contribution  to  capital  costs  from  either.  Substantial  public  money  would  be  needed,  it  would  have  to  come  entirely  from  central  or  regional  government,  little  chance  of  that. 

 

The  steam  railway  in  principal,  would  like  to  extend  to  Newport  eventually  but  recognises  the  problems and  costs  are  prohibitive  at  this  time,  this  would  be  as  a  heritage  railway  although  working  with  a  commercial  operator  could  be  possible.

 

The  priority  for  everyone  at  the  moment  is  to  secure  the  future  of  the  existing  Island  Line  operation,  hopefully  later this  year  firm  proposals  on  this  will  be  finalised.  Nice  to  have  extensions  can  be  considered  once  this  has  been  achieved.

 

Pete

[roythebus]

Might as well go the whole way and reopen it as part of the island line, and transplant the IWSR to the old Sandown to Merstone route or something.

It's probably just as likely...

 

Highly unlikely as that would mean building a complete new steam railway on the alignment, or what may be left of it.

[Dava]

If the politicians on the island are as good as the ones we have in Leeds they will end up spending much money and time on committee and reports before doing some preliminary work. Then it will get cancelled.

 

Does the Isle of Wight need a guided busway like Leeds....maybe to replace the Tube stock....perhaps there are better solutions 

[locoholic]

Does the Isle of Wight need a guided busway like Leeds....maybe to replace the Tube stock....perhaps there are better solutions

 

Nobody needs a guided busway!

[tomparryharry]

One of the problems that come from extensions is recouping the money, once the work is done.

 

Sometimes its difficult to increase the train fee, especially is you are working at the upper limit of your 'disposable income'.

 

Extending from Wootton to Newport will not always mean increased passenger flows, because the railhead is very close to the established main trunk road on the IoW. For instance, why go to Newport, when you can go to Havenstreet?  Ryde has historically been the long-held vision of the IOWSR. Nothing will really come of it until the current Island Line 'comes off' the 3rd rail.  As a slight aside, the last transport survey was quite complimentary of the route, showing a positive factor of 1:23: The highest after Ryde-Shanklin. 

 

Cheers,

 

Ian.

 

(Ex IoW resident).

[Zomboid]

When I went a couple of years ago I thought Havenstreet was a bit out of the way. Might have been a function of where we were coming from though. Didn't drive to Wooton so I don't know about that.