Future IOW trip

[Gathursty]

Just some questions for those who are familiar with traveling to/from the Isle of Wight.

Is it quicker to transfer to the island by car or on foot?
Is it better to go from Southampton or Portsmouth (frequency, reliability and journey time?)?
What days are Smallbrook Junction accessible?
Is it safe to walk from Ryde to Shanklin (ie: no walking in the road in the countryside)?

 

[Greenback]

Just some questions for those who are familiar with traveling to/from the Isle of Wight.

Is it quicker to transfer to the island by car or on foot?

Depends on where your are starting from. It may be easier and quicker to get to Portsmouth from where the foot connection is pretty easy.

In contrast, travelling on foot to Southampton means you then need to get to the ferry, either by walking or using the free bus link.

Lymington Pier would also be pretty easy, but again, you would need to get there first.

Is it better to go from Southampton or Portsmouth (frequency, reliability and journey time?)?

See my first answer!

What days are Smallbrook Junction accessible?

As far as I can remember, on steam railway operating days.

Is it safe to walk from Ryde to Shanklin (ie: no walking in the road in the countryside)?

I would think it would be as safe as any walk along comparable roads anywhere in the UK. It would be quite a long stroll, though, and I'd prefer to get a train or bus!

 

[Birdbrain]

Just some questions for those who are familiar with traveling to/from the Isle of Wight.

Is it quicker to transfer to the island by car or on foot?
Is it better to go from Southampton or Portsmouth (frequency, reliability and journey time?)?
What days are Smallbrook Junction accessible?
Is it safe to walk from Ryde to Shanklin (ie: no walking in the road in the countryside)?

Its quicker to transfer by foot and the public transport is good so there is no need for a car. Portsmouth and Southampton are both easy connections but choose depending on where you are travelling from. Don't forget you can get through fares to Yarmouth, East Cowes, West Cowes or anywhere on the island line.

Smallbrook is accessible only by rail on days the railway is operating. See here
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/timetables-fares.html

You could walk from Ryde to Shanklin but remember it is 8 miles! If you decide to do this it would be safer to use footpaths and bridleways which would again add distance as the A3055 has no footpath between Tesco (Ryde) and Brading.

 

[ianhr]

It may well be a lot cheaper to travel on foot using train & ferry rather than taking a car, depending on how many people are travelling & whether or not you can purchase a discounted ticket in advance.

I have made 2 return journeys to the Island from Yorkshire in the past month & a train/ferry through journey to Shanklin via London & Portsmouth with a rail card was half the cost of the return ferry (car + driver) without the cost of any petrol!

If you are only visiting the main towns & the IoW Steam Rly you do not need a car.

 

[Greenback]

The through fares will definitely be better value than taking a car, and I've never seen the need for a vehicle on the island.

 

[Gathursty]

I will be travelling by car from Wigan to Winchester, Shawford and either:

1) Use Southampton to transfer to the IOW to tick off the Island line stations (car or no car)
2) Return to Southampton and continue ticking off stations towards Portsmouth, Chichester, Alton and Wokingham.

OR

1) tick off stations east of Eastleigh and Swaythling to converge on Portsmouth
2) Visit the Island line from here (car or no car)
3) Resume station bagging as above.

I won't be doing this for a couple of months but the Island Line stations are the last on my list of awkward places to get to (Redcar British Steel, Lympstone Commando, Corrour, Berney Arms, Altnabreac, IBM, Stanlow & Thornton, MUFC Halt).

 

[Eagle]

The Southampton to East Cowes ferry takes ages (an hour or so) because Southampton's actually quite a way inland.

It's much quicker to go via Portsmouth, plus you're on the right side of the island to actually use rail line. Otherwise you're looking at a bus or a drive between East Cowes and Ryde (about 10 miles), which will only add to the time it takes and reduce your mainland bagging time :P

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Does the Wightlink Portsmouth to Fishbourne ferry carry foot passengers ?

 

[Gathursty]

Thanks for the advice! Portsmouth it will be. I just wish the ferry prices were on a level to the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge which I enjoyed in February.

 

[ianhr]

Yes, a day return from anywhere in Hampshire to Shanklin via Portsmouth-Ryde will almost certainly be the cheapest and easiest way to do it. If you want to include Smallbrook, Haven Street & Wooton just check that the IoW Steam Rly is running that day as SW trains only stop at Smallbrook when the steam trains are operating. An all day unlimited travel ticket for Ryde Pier-Shanklin & the Steam Railway costs £15 so ask if you can buy this with an add-on for the ferry. If you hop off at any of the stations then Ryde St John's Road & the newly restored Brading are worth a visit in the 20 or 40 min interval between the electric trains.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Thanks for the advice! Portsmouth it will be. I just wish the ferry prices were on a level to the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge which I enjoyed in February.

To be fair, the ferries that cross the Solent do have a longer distance gap to span from the mainland to the island than the distance travelled by the Middlesbrough Transporter bridge.

 

[Lrd]

The Southampton to East Cowes ferry takes ages (an hour or so) because Southampton's actually quite a way inland.

55 minutes.

The staff on the Southampton route are far nicer than that lot down Portsmouth/Lymington and the ferries are bigger. The journey is longer but is a very nice sailing, you get to see the majority of Southampton water and the northern part of the Solent, with Portsmouth you get to see Portsmouth and no one wants to see that!

(I may or may not work for Red Funnel )

 

[CallySleeper]

Worth making mention of the Red Jet which takes 25 minutes from Southampton T2 to West Cowes. Runs every hour (half hour during the peaks)

 

[alex17595]

Also, what about using the hovercraft?

 

[Techniquest]

tick off the Island line stations (car or no car)

Just out of curiosity, what's your method for station ticking?

Lympstone Commando

You do realise that one's not exactly doable unless you're on army business there?

Also, for sheer fun, the hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde is the best way to go. The RedJet craft also look fun admittedly, but you don't get many opportunities to ride on a hovercraft normally.

 

[Gathursty]

Just out of curiosity, what's your method for station ticking?

Taking a picture of the signage, preferably the double arrow sign at the approach or platform signs will do.

You do realise that one's not exactly doable unless you're on army business there?

Yes, but I couldn't be bothered e-mailing the MOD for permission so I just walked from Exton to there and back to at least see it (a very pleasant walk by the way). I'll allow this as an exception.

 

[Techniquest]

Fair enough, so long as I've been to the station that's fine by me. I used to take photos at each station I went to, mostly of the signs, but that was taking up too much room on hard drives etc. As for Lympstone Commando, I think that one will always be a gap in my atlas. IBM Halt, I haven't seen anything that says you can't alight there as a normal passenger. The Redcar one, I don't know about that one.

 

[341o2]

reading with interest as I am planning a similar journey from Brockenhurst to Shanklin.

When I first paid a visit after moving from London the journey details were to change at Southampton, Fratton then Portsmouth harbour. Don't unless you want to waste about 45 mins on a very very slow stopper and wait at Fratton.

On my return journey I was asked my destination and told to get aboard SWT not FGW and change at Eastliegh

As walking has been mentioned, emphasise that Smallbrook has the almost unique distinction of having no other access (well I suppose a helicopter could set down or airlift people) including road and foot other than by train. Its sole purpose is for changing between the island Line and the steam railway

Has there been any developments on either proposals to extend the steam railway to Ryde St Johns while the Island line would have the passing loop reinstated at Brading allowing a regular 30min service or replacement of the second generation of former LT stock by newer stock?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Fair enough, so long as I've been to the station that's fine by me. I used to take photos at each station I went to, mostly of the signs, but that was taking up too much room on hard drives etc. As for Lympstone Commando, I think that one will always be a gap in my atlas. IBM Halt, I haven't seen anything that says you can't alight there as a normal passenger. The Redcar one, I don't know about that one.

I decided to go to National rail enquiries site re LYC (Lympstone commando) and one can indeed book tickets to that station. You are advised it is a request stop and must inform the guard to get off a train there and when returning likewise indicate that you wish to board a train

With all the security scares I would imagine that any civilian would quickly attract the attention of the Forces

 

[ianhr]

Yes, proposals do exist to extend the steam trains to Ryde St John's using one of the 2 existing tracks from Smallbrook. Smallbrook could then close. There are 3 platforms at Ryde St John's so it should be possible to re-arrange the use of these to suit both services. Perhaps some materials recovered could be used to re-instate the Brading loop. The down platform there still exists with footbridge access. I suspect that the main obstacle is, as always, finance.

The 1938 -stock electric trains are unlikely to be replaced by more 'modern'(!) tube trains until 2019. Not clear what these would be, but anything with modern electronics may not stand up to the often harsh marine environment of Ryde Pier as well as the more robust electrical engineering of the 1930's.

My sources are some recent unofficial conversations with members of staff of both IoWSR & SWTrains.

 

[341o2]

thanks, my info was based on an article appearing in Railway Magazine with these proposals mentioned. One wonders whether the line could also be extended to the outskirts of Newport. The steam railway was originally based at Newport station until the site was cleared for road improvements. what a short sighted move.

I plan to make my trip this sunday and the suggested route takes over 3 hrs between Brockenhurst and Shanklin because I am advised to change at and presumably enjoy the delights of Havant station for some 50 minutes.

The 1938 stock has indeed done well, the reasons for selecting the 1927 stock were that much of the electrical gear was (or is ) in a compartment behind the driver's cab

 

[Lrd]

I am advised to change at and presumably enjoy the delights of Havant station for some 50 minutes

Sounds like you've been put on the fast Southern service, if you've got a 50 minute at Havant then I wouldn't bother and would wait for the stopping SWT service from Southampton, although this may still be a bit slower than waiting at Havant. You would also need to change at Fratton for a Pompey Harbour train.

 

[341o2]

see post #18. Brockenhurst - Portsmouth via Eastliegh much faster