roythebus1 Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Most of the track on the IWSR is reasonably new and would quite happily stand up to daily use. For years it's been better than the ride standard on the electric line as it was properly ballasted when the line extended from Havenstreet to Smallbrook. Again you're another one who fails to realise the seriousness of the notorious Wootton clay which is the main reason the steam railway ends there with the cutting beyond filled in. It's not only a case of moving the running line for the steam railway, it's the workshops, museum, storage facility, office, show fields, the lot. that isn't going to be cheap and will close the steam railway for 2 years or more while it moves to elsewhere. The IWSR is possibly unique in the preservation movement for owning not only all the rolling stock but the trackbed and surrounding property. 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nick C Posted December 2, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2021 On 30/11/2021 at 17:32, charliepetty said: Another silly idea, the only sensible route is using the Isle of Wight steam railways line to Newport, and then build them a new line from Sandown to Newport. Network Rail could ship loads of unwanted lengths of 'scrap' rail from around the network to a site on that line or better still replace 'ALL' the steam railways route with concrete sleepered welded flatbottom and relay the New IOW steam railways line (Newport to Sandown) for them using there own rails. The IOW steam railway would gain from a 'Brand new' new route and provide a line from the seaside to the Capital. Win Win I think. Charlie Why is that any more sensible than Sandown - Newport? There's no population centres on either route, but a lot more in the way. More sensible would be either a more northerly route to server Binstead, Fishbourne and Wootton Bridge, or extending from Shanklin via Godshill and Merstone. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Another case of "we must put the railway back" rather than "we must provide a railway that links the places that people want to go". If a railway between Ryde and Newport is needed, then it shouldn't necessarily be constrained by the decisions which were made 150 years ago. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bittern Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Agreed, but it is hard to see a better route between Ryde and Newport than the rather lousy R&NR route (pretty, yes, but not very convenient for passengers): it would be possible to run a new line closer around Swanmore and up to Binstead, but without demolition, a tunnel or street running that's a pretty meandering route to Ryde town centre . Serving Fishbourne and Wootton Bridge would be tricky too, and then there's access to Newport itself (especially if you want to connect on to Cowes, though serving East Cowes would be easier). It's easy to see why a tram-train/interurban seems like a good choice, provided they can achieve a decent ride quality, low noise in towns, and better speeds than the buses on the reserved track sections between villages, and I can't really see any other rail approach providing a better service than a bus along the road where all the people live (though I'm open to being convinced otherwise). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher125 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Despite previous reports, SWR will operate a half hourly service from next Monday - morning and evening peaks only, and the extra services will turn back at Esplanade. https://www.southwesternrailway.com/other/news-and-media/news/2021/december/swr-announces-two-island-line-trains-per-hour-during-peak-periods Quote During these peak times, one train per hour will travel to and from Ryde Pierhead to connect with the ferry service, with the other additional service terminating at Ryde Esplanade – improving connections with Hovertravel. 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher125 Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 (edited) Touch wood it seems to be going ok? Brading is fully open at last too. Brading by Chris, on Flickr 1987/09 - 12. Pre'36 Tube Stock at Brading. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr Edited December 21, 2021 by Christopher125 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardLong Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Just a head’s up that I’ve got a book coming out about the Island Line upgrade. It’s called ‘All Change at Ryde’ and it’ll be published this summer by Pen & Sword. Currently available to preorder from some websites: https://linktr.ee/allchangeatryde 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatC Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Many thanks for the heads up Richard. I'll definitely be adding a copy of that to the IoW shelf. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardLong Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 12 minutes ago, PatC said: Many thanks for the heads up Richard. I'll definitely be adding a copy of that to the IoW shelf. Thanks - hope you enjoy it! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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