To me, the most important passenger ferry link to the Isle of Wight is the FastCat from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pierhead.

That's because the FastCat links directly to the main-line railway station at Portsmouth Harbour, with rail links to London and other destinations.

Next to Portsmouth Harbour railway station is Portsmouth’s bus station.

At Ryde Pierhead, the FastCat connects with the Isle of Wight's one remaining railway.

Currently, the Island Line serves the east side of the Isle of Wight only, as far south as Shanklin (only).

Less than two years ago a comprehensive feasibility study was undertaken for Isle of Wight Council by London-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).

That work, funded by the DfT's 'Restoring your Railways' project, established the business case for re-building railways on the Island.

Two Isle of Wight railway projects were technically feasible; both showed a positive business case for investment.

They were a new rail link from Ryde Pierhead to Newport (via Sandown and Blackwater), and the extension of the Island Line southwards to Ventnor (via Wroxall).

On the back of CEBR's work, a funding bid for the next stage of development work was submitted by Isle of Wight Council to the DfT.

The bid document included a forward by Bob Seely MP, extolling the virtues of the proposal.

However, since then, nothing has happened. It appears that the Isle of Wight’s rail extension projects have literally hit the buffers.

If true, this outcome is most disappointing. Speaking bluntly, if the current government wants to demonstrate a commitment to the Isle of Wight's economy, its future and "levelling up", the DfT should fund this bid.

Meanwhile, I respectfully ask both Wendy Perera (chief executive, Isle of Wight Council) and Bob Seely, MP, to report in these pages on the current status of the project.

If the DfT route for funding is dead in the water, what alternative funding sources are being pursued (as promised) to achieve these essential rail links?

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