Isle of Wight Council Rail Study


1. Introduction

1.1 Study Remit 

The Isle of Wight Council commissioned this outline feasibility and initial appraisal of options to expand the passenger rail network on the Island.

Undertaken by Jacobs Consultancy (formerly GIBB Transport Consulting), this study complements our review, commissioned by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), which has considered heavy rail and light rail options for future continued provision of passenger services on the existing Island Line route between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin.

This study considers options of extension south of Shanklin to reach Ventnor, together with potential integration and extension with the existing IoW Steam Railway route to provide passenger services through Smallbrook from Ryde to Newport and thence possibly on to Cowes, again considering both conventional and light rail solutions.

The principal deliverable of the study is an initial high level feasibility and cost / benefit analysis of options for expanding the rail network on the Island by means of 'heavy rail', i.e. segregated way, and 'light rail', i.e. street tramway. The study includes:

1.2 Background to the study 

The IoW Council have a stated policy that they "will support and encourage the retention and extension of the Island's railway lines, and will ensure that disused railway lines are safeguarded from development to allow their use for sustainable transport purposes. This use could include rail schemes, cycle routes, pedestrian paths and bridleways." "Where lines are re-opened to rail traffic, there may be a possibility of linking routes by the street running of trains through town centres."

Various stakeholders have suggested scope for modernisation, conversion, and integration of Island Line with other passenger services and extension of the system. Some advocate conversion to a tramway capable of street running. Others have urged for replacing the railway with bus or guided bus solutions. SRA have confirmed that options involving closure of the railway are not on their agenda for the foreseeable future. The two year extension of the existing franchise provides IoW Council, SRA and other stakeholders with the opportunity to help identify and facilitate the best way forward for the Island's railway, and the remit for this study is aimed at providing part of the input to that process.