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6. Conclusions

Overall Island Line demand has recovered since 1998 from a period of earlier decline. Island Line contributes to the Island economy by carrying 300,000 passengers per year through Ryde Pier Head of which 70% are travelling between ferry and the Shanklin / Lake / Sandown conurbation. On peak summer Saturdays an estimated 6,000 passengers per day are carried by Island Line on Ryde Pier.

Train services attempt to connect with every ferry at Pier Head. The infrastructure constraints severely constrain the timing of trains to optimise connections with ferries. The existing service is considered inadequate both in terms of providing reliable connections, as connections are missed whenever a ferry is slightly delayed and in terms of capacity on peak dates causing crowding and congestion problems.

The present rolling stock appears to be quite acceptably reliable, and maintainable, although the passenger environment is perceived as a weakness, in particular in terms of in vehicle noise and ride quality. Heavy overhaul is anticipated to escalate in cost in future given the obsolete components involved. Our view is that the existing fleet can probably be kept operational until approximately 2014 if necessary.

As far as the infrastructure is concerned, expenditure by Railtrack is anticipated to broadly follow the predicted average spend assumed in the lease. We consider this to be a realistic strategy. Our assessment of track renewals, however, suggests that a continuation of the existing approach will lead to a significant backlog of work and is not sustainable in the medium to long term. This activity is currently not covered by Railtrack's responsibilities in the lease and falls to the TOC. The TOC continues to maintain a safe railway but takes an approach consistent with their relatively short period of tenure. Having identified the need to add in track renewals investment, we have not identified any significant infrastructure issues that are likely to prevent long term continuation of the railway with this maintenance and renewal programme.

Priorities emerging from stakeholder consultation have informed the development of the strategic development options and include:

  • enhancements to infrastructure to enable flexibility in timetabling to establish robust connections with ferries and to remove the uneven 20/40 minute interval;
  • enhanced service provision with sufficient capacity to avoid peak crowding;
  • system modernisation, ideally capturing the benefits of rapid transit / light rail.  
Recommendations 

It is suggested that the SRA should give consideration to:

  • establishing dialogue with LUL concerning the potential purchase of surplus 1983 or 1972 tube rolling stock, to resource 12 vehicles in traffic,
  • the apparent shortfall in track renewal activity to achieve a 'steady state' future given the existing franchise and lease arrangements and obligations;
  • how best to progress those potentially worthwhile service development and infrastructure enhancement options; and
  • forthcoming findings from the IW Council sponsored study
  • ·
into route extension.
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