3. Stakeholder Consultation

Stagecoach Island Line Management 

The Stagecoach management team and Island Line staff have been most helpful in providing GIBB every assistance for this study including several meetings, access to information, site visits and access to their engineering consultants in the course of the study. Stagecoach believe that the opportunity should now be grasped to decide between various strategic choices for the future form of Island Line now, in time before the next large spend on heavy repairs for the existing rolling stock has to be triggered.

Stagecoach have had to encourage Railtrack to invest in asset renewals to meet the level set down in the lease e.g. the recent signalling renewals in the Ryde area, and consider that the level of spend as set out in the lease is about right to sustain renewals of Railtrack assets. However Stagecoach confirm that there have been no significant track renewals since privatisation. They explained that there is little incentive for the TOC with a short term franchise to do much more than ensure that the existing track is maintained in safe condition rather than develop a programme of long term 'steady state' track renewals when such assets have a 60 year life. Stagecoach have pointed out however that the ride quality is considered to be having some adverse impact on the rolling stock and passenger perception.

Views have been expressed that the best solutions may not be achieved by the short term renewal of the passenger franchise beyond the present extended term ending in 2003, i.e. simply another five years, but that relatively long franchise period may be appropriate to facilitate investment. While it is acknowledged that the railway could continue in its present form with renewals when necessary, investment solutions may involve light rail / tram technology.

Railtrack 

Railtrack consider that there is no reason why the railway can not continue for the foreseeable future, taking account of the condition of the key assets and structures. They consider that the level of spend set out for them in the lease agreement is broadly right for the future.

Wightlink 

Wightlink operate the passenger ferry services between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head. They enjoy close co-operation with Stagecoach both with Island Line and importantly with South West Trains.

Wightlink consider that the existing track infrastructure does not allow sufficient flexibility in timetabling to enable robust connections to be provided between train and ferry. Wightlink sailings are timed to connect with SWT key London arrivals and departures and this, together with the current Island Line 20 / 40 minute irregular service interval pattern, means that every other connection is very tight (3 to 4 minutes). Even when running on time the elderly, infirm and those with heavy luggage can struggle. Wightlink believe that connection margins should allow in the region of at least ten minutes for interchange.

Wightlink would like to see at least a third service per hour throughout to Shanklin at peak bank holiday weekends and throughout the summer months. This would 'do away with the sardine can experience customers must currently put up with on peak dates'.

Rail Passengers' Committee 

The RPC for Southern England have produced notes of the presentation material and subsequent discussions at a public conference they held in Ryde on 28 February 2001 to debate the future of the Island Line. This together with a discussion with the RPC chair has provided useful input to this study.

Isle of Wight Council 

Discussions have been held with IOW Council officers and Councillors. In addition to urging for retention and development of the existing Island Line, the IOW Council have commissioned GIBB to carry out further work alongside this study to examine the feasibility and economics of route extension.

Other Stakeholders 
 
The IOW Council arranged an opportunity for GIBB to meet with various user and interest groups, which augmented the record of their input at the RPC Conference. These bodies included:

The potential benefits that light rail might bring and the essential requirement to retain Island Line were discussed.