The return of a Dotto train in Shanklin has not been ruled out — although caution has been voiced by a top councillor.
The iconic vehicle has been absent from the town for more than ten years now, but with renewed interest in one for Ryde, Shanklin has been looking at whether it would be a good idea to get one back on its roads.
The matter was raised at last week’s Shanklin Town Council meeting.
Quirk: They are unreliable
However, Shanklin mayor, Cllr Chris Quirk, said the town didn’t want a Dotto train as they were unreliable.
The former train in Sandown, he said, was a Landrover with bodywork to make it look like a land train.
He said,
“The one in Shanklin made a decent profit, the one in Sandown broke even and the one in Ryde, which was a Dotto train, made a thumping great loss every year which is why they got rid of it.
“What was disappointing was that the Isle of Wight council insisted on selling all three as a job lot.”
Quirk: A good private enterprise
Cllr Quirk said it was something the town council could consider, but he was not sure a public authority was the right body to be running a Dotto train.
He said,
“It is a good private enterprise we can encourage and help, rather than committing ratepayers’ money.
“I don’t think this is a good time to put up precepts to buy a Dotto train, but we can think of it.”
Scrapped by Conservatives
Dotto trains were scrapped on the Island in 2010 by the Isle of Wight Conservative council as the ageing vehicles meant increased maintenance costs.
At the time, the authority did look at replacing the trains with either new or refurbished ones, but was looking at a price tag of more than £100,000 per train.
Southern Vectis launched new summer route
It was deemed unviable and the Island’s bus operator, Southern Vectis introduced a new summer route covering as much of the Dotto train routes as possible.
Despite interest in bringing back the trains, including bids from local companies, the council sold the three vehicles to a businessman in Llandudno.
The council said it had accepted the best offer.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
