Island Line 'to be included in next rail franchise'

The Island Line on the Isle of Wight operates between Ryde Pier head and Shanklin

An Isle of Wight train service will be included in the next South West Trains franchise, the council has said.

Campaigners feared the loss-making service could be dropped when the Stagecoach franchise ends in 2017.

Steve Stubbings, deputy leader at Isle of Wight Council, said The Department for Transport (DfT) had assured the authority the line would be included in the next rail franchise.

But a DfT spokesperson said no decision has been made about the line.

Island Line services are run by South West Trains.

The train service operates a 8.5m (13.7km) route from Ryde Pier Head to Brading, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin using former London Underground tube trains.

'Vital artery'

Mr Stubbings said: "The DfT has given us an an assurance that it will be included in the franchise, that's very encouraging news.

"The idea of closing it down is an anathema. However, there needs to be some work and investment to give Island Line a future."

But a DfT spokesperson contradicted Mr Stubbings and said: "No decisions have yet been made about the inclusion of the Island Line in the next South West Trains franchise, and to suggest otherwise is inaccurate and misleading.

"We are working closely with our local partners to look at the best way forward in order to ensure the maximum benefits to the local community, passengers, businesses and visitors to the island."

A campaign to keep the Isle of Wight train service as part of a major franchise followed the suggestion by Isle of Wight's Conservative MP Andrew Turner that the service could be owned and run by the community.

Stewart Blackmore, of the Keep Island Line Franchise campaign, who described the service as a "vital artery" to the mainland, said the idea for it to be community-run was "a non-starter".

He said: "Commercially, I don't think anybody would be willing to take that up."