THE Isle of Wight’s Island Line operation linking Ryde with Shanklin is to stay a part of the South West Trains franchise following a major campaign, writes Gary Boyd-Hope.
The 8½-mile railway, which famously employs ex-London Underground 1938 Stock converted to third rail pick-up, had been highlighted in September last year by the then rail minister, Claire Perry, as one that the Department for Transport (DfT) wanted to see as a “separate and self-sustaining business” during the next SWT franchise.
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