SRA Island line replacment review
1. Introduction
Remit
The SRA commissioned a review to advise on options to continue provision of passenger services on the existing Island Line route between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin, beyond the existing Stagecoach franchise period which has now been extended to 27 September 2003. The brief required the scoping of two scenarios, 'heavy rail' and 'light rail', in terms of feasibility of options and the works and equipment investment required, with an assessment of the costs and scale of any passenger revenue benefits likely to arise from each option.
The main outputs required from this study include a strategic review of the existing infrastructure and rolling stock asset condition, the future peak capacity requirements, and potential infrastructure and rolling stock specifications and costs for both 'heavy rail' and 'light rail' scenarios, that would most effectively serve the potential demands for the Island Line existing corridor, including a high level feasibility and cost / benefit analysis comparison of 'heavy' versus 'light' rail options over 10, 20 & 30 year horizons.
The review aims to identify and assess potentially appropriate Development Options to facilitate development of passenger services along the existing Ryde - Shanklin route. Various resource levels and investment schemes for train services, rolling stock options: new electric stock, diesel stock, and light rail, compared with further LUL cascade, and infrastructure e.g. restoring a passing facility at Brading, were considered.
We have carried out a separate study, for the Isle of Wight Council, which considers options for route extension south of Shanklin to Ventnor, and via the IoW Steam Railway through Smallbrook to Newport and on to Cowes.
Description of the Island Line
The Island Line currently extends eight and a half route miles linking the holiday resorts of Shanklin, the southern terminus since 3rd rail electrification in 1966/67, Lake and Sandown, with a combined resident population of 30,000, through the village of Brading, and thence through open countryside, past Smallbrook Interchange (for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway), to the town of Ryde, also of approximately 30,000 population, terminating at Ryde Pier Head, the ferry terminal for Portsmouth nearly half a mile from dry land.
Background to the Review
The two year extension of the existing franchise provides SRA and other stakeholders with the opportunity to identify and facilitate the best strategic way forward for Island Line. Various stakeholders have identified the need for investment, e.g. the next heavy overhauls will be due for the existing rolling stock in 2003/04, and have suggested scope for modernisation, conversion, and integration with other passenger services and extension of the system. Some advocate conversion to 'light rail' with the possibility of trams capable of street running. Others have urged for replacing the railway with bus or guided bus solutions. SRA have confirmed that such options involving closure of the railway are not on their agenda for the foreseeable future.
The SRA commissioned a review to advise on options to continue provision of passenger services on the existing Island Line route between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin, beyond the existing Stagecoach franchise period which has now been extended to 27 September 2003. The brief required the scoping of two scenarios, 'heavy rail' and 'light rail', in terms of feasibility of options and the works and equipment investment required, with an assessment of the costs and scale of any passenger revenue benefits likely to arise from each option.
The main outputs required from this study include a strategic review of the existing infrastructure and rolling stock asset condition, the future peak capacity requirements, and potential infrastructure and rolling stock specifications and costs for both 'heavy rail' and 'light rail' scenarios, that would most effectively serve the potential demands for the Island Line existing corridor, including a high level feasibility and cost / benefit analysis comparison of 'heavy' versus 'light' rail options over 10, 20 & 30 year horizons.
The review aims to identify and assess potentially appropriate Development Options to facilitate development of passenger services along the existing Ryde - Shanklin route. Various resource levels and investment schemes for train services, rolling stock options: new electric stock, diesel stock, and light rail, compared with further LUL cascade, and infrastructure e.g. restoring a passing facility at Brading, were considered.
We have carried out a separate study, for the Isle of Wight Council, which considers options for route extension south of Shanklin to Ventnor, and via the IoW Steam Railway through Smallbrook to Newport and on to Cowes.
Description of the Island Line
The Island Line currently extends eight and a half route miles linking the holiday resorts of Shanklin, the southern terminus since 3rd rail electrification in 1966/67, Lake and Sandown, with a combined resident population of 30,000, through the village of Brading, and thence through open countryside, past Smallbrook Interchange (for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway), to the town of Ryde, also of approximately 30,000 population, terminating at Ryde Pier Head, the ferry terminal for Portsmouth nearly half a mile from dry land.
Background to the Review
The two year extension of the existing franchise provides SRA and other stakeholders with the opportunity to identify and facilitate the best strategic way forward for Island Line. Various stakeholders have identified the need for investment, e.g. the next heavy overhauls will be due for the existing rolling stock in 2003/04, and have suggested scope for modernisation, conversion, and integration with other passenger services and extension of the system. Some advocate conversion to 'light rail' with the possibility of trams capable of street running. Others have urged for replacing the railway with bus or guided bus solutions. SRA have confirmed that such options involving closure of the railway are not on their agenda for the foreseeable future.
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