On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:40:01 +0100, Neil Williams
wrote:

As the Island Line is a financial basket case, I suspect hand-me-down
Tube stock is the cheapest option, and as such is probably the best
one short of getting into a debate about closure and bustitution.


Even if there was an intention to close the line to Shanklin, there
would still need to be a shuttle train service from the Pier Head to
and from Ryde Esplanade, and probably to Ryde St John's Road, to
connect with the ferries.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway could then extend its route the short
distance from Smallbrook Junction to Ryde St John's Road for
interchange with the shuttles.

I doubt very much whether the Isle of Wight Steam Railway would be
interested in taking over the route from Smallbrook Junction to
Shanklin. As you say, it is a financial basket case.

I know you didn't want to discuss the option of bustitution, but there
is a very clear case for it here. There are already buses from Ryde
to Shanklin and Ventnor, and they serve those communities far better
than the trains can - the railway is of no use at all to people
travelling to/from Ventnor.