A practising railway engineer, with over forty years of experience, has compiled a technical critique to the Isle of Wight council commissioned Garnett Report on Island Line trains.
The response was put together by KILF supporter and St Helens resident, Mark Brinton MIET.
Concerned at rationality of Garnett’s analysis
Cllr Ray Bloomfield has this week written to all Isle of Wight councillors (see letter), proposing an amendment to a full council motion on the Garnett Report (to be debated and voted on next week).
In the letter from himself and Chris Quirk from KILF, Cllr Bloomfield says they fundamentally disagree with Christopher Garnett’s conclusions that the best way forward would be for Island Line to operate as a separate franchise.
They are also concerned at the “rationality of some of analysis offered by Mr Garnett (particularly in respect of his suggestion of a tram model)”.
Highlights from the critique
Cllr Bloomfield urges all councillors to read Mr Brinton’s report (embedded below) and highlights several points of critique of the Garnett Report, asking them to consider voting for his amendment to the motion.
- “With regard to the difference between “heavy rail”, “Island Line” and “light rail/tramway” track maintenance standards there is a myth perpetuated mainly by tramway enthusiasts that Island Line is maintained to “heavy rail” standards and therefore excessively expensive….
The argument that a tramway would be cheaper to maintain does not stand close scrutiny.” [page 6] - “The tramway will require track maintenance standards significantly higher than that necessary for a railway operating at the same speed.” [page 7]
- “To reduce the permitted track twist to levels tolerated by trams would require a significantly higher standard of track maintenance than would otherwise be afforded if the track were to be restored and maintained at an acceptable level for a train operation”. [page 19]
- “UK Tram are currently quoting the average cost of building a tram track as between £12.2m and £26m per kilometre.” [page 10]
- “I suspect that in the event of Island Line becoming a tramway the DfT would seek to have it removed from the National Rail Network with the associated loss of network benefits such as through tickets etc…
It would remove the ability of mainland passengers to book through to Island Line destinations.” [page 23] - “With regard to the rolling stock on Island Line, it is the writer’s considered technical opinion that the existing rolling stock could be kept operational until the end of the next franchise period (7-10 years).
However it will require some investment in the vehicles to achieve this. Given that the next franchise period could end in 2024 to 2027 then then would be the time to consider replacing the rolling stock with something more modern.
It also gives time for decisions regarding improvement of the infrastructure to be made and implemented and some return on the investment in the existing rolling stock.” [pages 16-17] - He provides a detailed analysis in relation to the potential use of alternative Tube Stock, dismissing Mr Garnett’s conclusion that there are no options available on this front [pages 6 to 7] before going to say that “it is likely that an extensive (and expensive) scope of work would be necessary to make redundant tram vehicles fit to operate on the Island”. [page 8]
Serious questions over Garnett Report
In their letter to councillors, Ray and Chris say,
We consider that Mr Brinton has raised serious questions about the validity of the analysis provided (and resulting conclusions reached) by Mr Garnett, to the extent that we do not believe that Full Council should be endorsing the latter’s report.
We are therefore concerned that the DfT has already been provided with a copy of Mr Garnett’s report (before Full Council has even debated it) and we hope that following Full Council’s deliberations the agreed position of elected members can be made clear to the DfT as they continue their preparations on the ITT.
The motion will be discussed and voted upon in the council chamber on Wednesday 16th March from 6pm.
Letter to Cllrs
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The motion
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The Report
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IWC paper
The Garnett Report
Image: kevinsteinhardt under CC BY 2.0
