Thanks to Andy Morris from the Isle of Wight Bus and Rail Users Group for sharing details of this letter to all Isle of Wight councillors. Ed
The Isle of Wight Bus and Rail Users Group (IWBRUG) has written to all Isle of Wight Council elected members (see email) in advance of Wednesday’s Full Council Meeting at which the future of Island Line will once again be debated.
The Council will be considering the recommendations of the Garnett Report in respect of Island Line, which was commissioned by the Council, and written by transport consultant, Christopher Garnett.
Objection to Garnett’s recommendation
Whilst IWBRUG were among several consultees during the compilation of the report, we cannot agree with the central recommendation that Island Line is placed outside of a wider South Western rail franchise.
Additionally we have drawn to the attention of Council members the Technical Report (see below) recently produced by local rail infrastructure expert, Mark Brinton, who outlines the viability of a number of other future options for Island Line that the Garnett Report may have overlooked or may have assessed on the basis of inadequate detailed information.
Dear Councillor
I am writing on behalf of the membership and Executive Committee of the Isle of Wight Bus and Rail Users Group (IWBRUG), founded in 1985, which is the sole local independent group acting on behalf of bus and rail passengers on the Isle of Wight.
We published our Policy Statement in respect of the Island Line in 2015, which is attached (see below), through which we have sought to promote and support the long term development of rail services on the Isle of Wight on behalf of passengers, whether they be local residents, commuters or tourists.
IWBRUG were consultees to the Garnett Report, however we strongly disagree with some of the key conclusions that Mr Garnett has drawn.
In particular we cannot agree that Island Line should be placed outside of a wider South Western rail franchise.
We have also studied the detailed technical report independently submitted by local rail infrastructure expert, Mark Brinton, and agree with his views that there are several viable options as to how the line could be retained, within a wider franchise.
Accordingly IWBRUG is asking that, when voting in respect of this matter at Wednesday’s Full Council meeting, you will give very strong consideration to the following action:
First – support Option 5 “To agree an alternative approach”
Second – to re-affirm support, for items (iii) and (iv) only, of the resolution agreed in respect of this matter at Full Council on 2 September 2015.
The text for these items was:
(iii) ….. that Island Line should remain as a fully integral part of the South Western rail franchise for the entire duration of its post-2017 period.
(iv) Makes representations to the Department of Transport (DfT) stating this unequivocal view, and urges them to ensure that the franchise specification invites bidders to set out how they would invest in, maintain and improve the service throughout this time.Third – to support the Motion/Amendment submitted by Councillor Bloomfield under paragraph 30 Option 5
Please give full consideration to supporting this course of action, even if the Island Line passes nowhere near your Ward. Fighting for the future of Island Line within a wider franchise is a worthy action!
Thank you for your consideration of this matter,
Andy Morris
Secretary, IWBRUG
The Garnett Report
