Vespa
Established Member
Probably not for the three months it's estimated for the line upgrade and new train testing and bedding in.
Wightlink are to suspend the Portsmouth Harbour-Ryde Pier Head Fastcat service after close of service on the 13 November. No date is given for its return.
It's probably virus restrictions related as they're also stopping Saturday and Sunday sailings on Lymington - Yarmouth.
Wightlink are to suspend the Portsmouth Harbour-Ryde Pier Head Fastcat service after close of service on the 13 November. No date is given for its return.
It wasn't running during Lockdown 1.0 either. I'd assume it'll return in the new year if not before.
Hovertravel accepting Wightlink tickets and arrangements to use car ferry in bad weather with buses provided to link between the Hover terminals and the car ferry terminals
Work! People on the Island work on the mainland and v.v.To be fair, with people asked to travel only locally, a quite low COVID prevalence on the island (but a much higher prevalence in high-density Portsmouth), holidays effectively banned and an elderly population, I can see why hardly anyone would be wanting to cross the Solent at the moment.
The main drawbacks of living and working on an island.Work! People on the Island work on the mainland and v.v.
Adrian advises that Vivarail had suggested that it could supply its Class 230 battery trains to operate the route to enable the 53-year old third rail system to be decommissioned. However, this was not considered to be the best option perhaps because of the high initial cost of battery rafts.
A two-car Class 230 BEMU has four battery packs, each costing around £100,000, with a seven-year warranty... The cost of the wayside charging battery bank also has to be considered.
Not noticed this interview before, but it clearly shows why removing the conductor rail was never going to happen: https://www.railuk.com/featured/what-next-for-vivarail/
No kidding...
Batteries alone would cost £2m for 5 units (adding nearly 7t to each), with more needed at the fast charging stations and all with a limited lifespan - there's clearly no case for replacing conventional 3rd rail with costs like that.
Well, surely you need to know what the costs are of maintaining the con-rail and associated equipment in order to make such an assertion - which I'm guessing you may not have done ?
It's an assumption, but a pretty safe one don't you think?
Personally I was surprised they didn't go battery / hybrid in part because the line would have made quite a good test-bed for it, partly because it would simplify future infrastructure changes and partly because it was said the con-rail and its equipment was nearing life expiry and therefore renewing it seemed an unnecessary cost.
Bus replacement currently shown for 5th and 6thI'm going to try and get over on Saturday 5th Dec restrictions permitting.
Will the 2 train service be running then subject to unit availability? I recall there was some suggestion they would be going to an hourly service before the engineering close down.
Based on RTT, Sunday this week is the last of the two train service. Only seems to be hourly on the days I looked at in December.Bus replacement currently shown for 5th and 6th
I'm slightly surprised that they're still running up to Pier Head and back - with the Wightlink catamarans not running I can't imagine there's any demand beyond Esplanade.
Bus replacement currently shown for 5th and 6th
Based on RTT, Sunday this week is the last of the two train service. Only seems to be hourly on the days I looked at in December.
I have no inside information, but it would seem to me that if you did have two units available, you are better keeping one as a spare than putting all your eggs in one basket. If you had three units available, then...well, that is really the realms of fantasy.
Nobody was worried about distancing when I bashed the line in August. Train was full and standing. I survived!It just seems that with a 50% service, Christmas, social distancing and the prospect of enthusiasts turning up, maintaining the normal level of capacity wouldn’t go amiss.
You mean you didn't drop dead the second you crossed the train threshold???Nobody was worried about distancing when I bashed the line in August. Train was full and standing. I survived!
Thanks GrahamBus replacement currently shown for 5th and 6th
Based on RTT, Sunday this week is the last of the two train service. Only seems to be hourly on the days I looked at in December.
a bit odd as they are running two trains where available during lockdown and then back to one when we can travel again. I was over in August (Bank Hol weekend) and only one unit running hourly. Jam packed with no chance to distance and perhaps only 50% bothering with masks. Not helped by having about a third of one carriage roped off for use of the guard. I would hope some kind of last few days 'celebration' is to be held to mark the long life of these units. I do remember the old Vec/Tis stock too, they were really ancient to my youthful eyes.Thanks Graham
That's scuppered it for me then. Not sure it's worth the trip for one an hour
It's interesting (to me, anyway) that the 483s are older now than the stock they replaced was when it went. They don't look it to me.I do remember the old Vec/Tis stock too, they were really ancient to my youthful eyes.
Is there any prospect of 4-car trains running during the hourly service in December? I know this has been very much a rarity over the last few years.