Isle of Wight Council seeks Island Line rail service solution

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

Isle of Wight Council has enlisted the help of a rail expert to help it secure the future of the Island Line service.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said bidders for the next South Western rail franchise would be asked to turn the line into a self-sustaining business.

Campaigners had previously feared the loss-making service between Ryde and Shanklin would be dropped when the Stagecoach franchise ends in 2017.

The council said the expert would help find a long-term solution for the line.

The authority said Christopher Garnet - chairman of the transport co-ordinating committee for the Rugby World Cup 2015 and former chairman and chief executive of Great North Eastern Railways - had "strong island connections" and was offering his services "free of charge".

Council leader Jonathan Bacon said Mr Garnett would "act independently, seek out and collate the views of all stakeholders and discuss with the government the needs of the island from the new franchise" to ensure the island "does all it can to secure the long-term future of Island Line".

The line, which uses former London Underground rolling stock, runs 8.5 miles (13.7km) from Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head, where it connects with passenger ferries to Portsmouth Harbour.

It also connects with the Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Smallbrook Junction and has additional stops in Brading, Sandown and Lake.