Planning trip from Waterloo to the Isle of Wight

DelW said:

The crucial factor is the connection with the fastcat ferries to Portsmouth, which a high proportion of passengers are transferring to or from. Those run mostly at even 30 minute intervals, so at present the trains connect well only once per hour, the other hourly train misses the ferry in one direction and gives a longer wait in the other.

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Greetings! I'm planning to ride both the Island Line (its been a while since I've ridden this line), and the IOW Steam Railway. I'm starting my journey from Waterloo (actually starting from the US) and have a few questions (I did search this forum and other websites for answers):

1. The National Rail Enquiries journey planner shows a 7 minute connection between the arrival of the Waterloo train and the departure of the ferry. How reliable is this connection? (I'm thinking of a Monday morning journey and if I want a longer connecting time, I need to take a train one hour earlier (I'd like to take the fast train), which I'd prefer not to do.)

2. Wightlink Ferry's website states that foot passengers must check in 15 minutes before sailing; but the journey planner schedules this as a 7 minute connection. How strictly is this 15 minute check in enforced?

3. I'll likely purchase a Britrail or Eurailpass, so will need to purchase a ferry ticket. If I purchase on site, I will have 7 minutes or less to do so (assuming the train arrives on time). How realistic is this?

4. If booking on line, the Wightlink website seems to require selecting both the outbound and return journey in advance if purchasing a return ticket. Since I'm not sure which ferry I will take on the return journey, is there a way to get an open return?

Thanks in advance!

The train is due to arrive at 8 minutes past the hour and the ferry leave at 15 minutes past the hour. Wightlink usually hold the boat for a few minutes if the train is late.

You really need to buy your ticket before you get to the station, you can get a day return ticket from the train guard for Havant - Ryde Pier for about £25 if you wish. That way you show the rail ticket when boarding the train and can catch the connecting sailing.

There are through fares from London to IoW stations and the Steam Railway.

If you have a Eurail/Britrail, then the fare from Fratton to the Steam Railway at 34.90 is fractionally cheaper than Wightlink and Steam Railway separately and this solves the Wightlink issues. (The fare isnt available from either Portsmouth station. I can't find it to book online, but Waterloo should be able to issue it.)

It costs more, but it might be worth doing the hovercraft back from Ryde to Southsea. Good fun, and a rapid trip, but you will probably need to get a bus back from Southsea to Portsmouth.

1. The connection time to the ferry is as little as a minute. The ferry terminal is at the end of the platform (walk towards front of train).
2. The boarding time is not strict and they often run late. Basically you can board until they pull the bridge.
3. You can get a ferry return+island line day rover+bus day rover combination ticket for £27.90 from the Portsmouth Harbor ferry ticket desk. 7 minutes is a bit tight but possible as the ferry often runs late and lines are typically short. However, if you miss the next ferry is usually a 30 minute wait during high season.
4. Best to buy the ticket on site. If your train is late and you miss your boat you will need a new ticket anyway.

Thanks everyone for your ideas and suggestions!

It has been a while since I've been on a hovercraft!

I may take an earlier train to provide a bit more cushion between the train and ferry. I don't want to miss the ferry to the Island Line connection to the IOW Steam Railway at Smallbrook Jct.

As long as you have a ticket already, the connection time isn't an issue unless SWR are running significantly late. I've been on a train that arrived at the nominal ferry departure time, and Wightlink staff kept the gangway down until everyone visible had boarded (left about 4-5 min late). Buying a ticket from the Wightlink office might compromise that though there's not normally much of a queue. However I've always bought through tickets as others have recommended. Mine have always been anytime or (weekend) off-peak day returns so any train/ferry validity that day.

There is no check-in as such, tickets are checked while passengers are queuing to board, or at the gangway if the queue has been cleared before departure time.

Travel at the front of the train, so when it stops at the Harbour, you are near the ramp, which is on the right hand side as you past the buffer stops.

Thanks Waldgun, DelW and all who posted. I appreciate the insights. I've been working long hours and had limited free time.

I'm looking forward to riding the Island line again and to riding the IOW Railway.

Trip report: Took the 08:00 Waterloo to PMH where I had plenty of time to connect to the 10:15 Cat sailing to Ryde Pier Head. This also gave me time to photograph the ex South West Trains livery and to explore the station. I’m glad I took the earlier train because with some slow running due to track work en route we arrived 3 minutes late, which would have been tight if on the train with a 7 minute connection.

No problem buying an open, day return from the friendly ticket agent. For some reason the toilets on board the ferry and at the pier were out of service.

After some last minute shuffling Wight Ryder 2 replaced another vessel and off we went, several minutes late.

Before departing for this trip I noticed that service on the Island Line had been cut back to hourly. Fortunately none of my trains that I was planning to ride were affected.

Passing by the depot at St Johns Road I saw that there were at least 2 trains inside and 3 outside.

Fare collection seemed to be limited to just one of the two cars on the trips that I took and ridership was good on trips I took. I wonder how much revenue was not collected, which would then allow SWR to claim that ridership was poor?

Was able to ride/visit the IOW Steam Railway and weather was sunny and agreeable. Nice operation and at Haven Street Station there’s certainly quite a bit to see and do.

Returning from Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head rain moved in and gave our train a bit of a car wash.

I did see the hovercraft arriving and departing in Ryde; I’ll have to try that next time.

All in all a nice day out and much nicer of an experience than later that day when I tried to sample LNER’s first class evening meal on Azuma, which was a bit of a fiasco.

Glad it all went well, for your Island trip!