New Wightlink Ships Causing Environmental Damage???

[ashurstdave]

The controversal new Wightlink ferries operating on the Lymington - Yarmouth route (Wight Light, Wight Sky and Wight Sun ) could be banned as from October 2009 under "The European Union's Habitats Directive". The Government's department for food and rural affairs (DEFRA) wants to alter the Habitats Directive to include the Lymington River, where the vessels sail along. The Lymington River Association is taking action in the High Court in a bid to stop Wightlink Ferries from operating the service.

From a personal point of view I hope common sense prevails as the withdrawal of the ferry route would also see the curtailment of the Brockenhurst-Lymington branch line train - as it is informed sources within SWT advise me that the train service may be reduced to every 45 minutes from every 30 minutes when the Diesel Class 158's are introduced.

The ferry service is also a well used link. As well as the heavy commercial vehicle business, there is also an unusual daily bus working which uses the ferry. It is Southern Vectis' schooldays only Ryde-Brockenhurst College which is a double deck and sails each way on the ferry.

I will keep the forum posted when I hear more.

[Andy]

yes hopefully, there will be saome common sence, and they save the ferry, as that was something, i was intressted in doing sompoint either this year of next!

[ashurstdave]

Wighlink have now published a ferry timetable until 2nd November 2009. There was an item in the media stating that "Wightlink" are prepared to pay for any environmental damage to the mud-flats and were prepared to pay for any dredging for a deeper channel, if that was going to be a solution to one of the concerns.
SWT have also stated that the Heritage Units will continue to run until May 2010,when they will definitely be replaced with diesel 158 weekdays and electric Desiro at Weekends. It means that for five days a week, the third rail will not be used!
So folks, get your photographs now before its too late!

[ashurstdave]

I travelled on the train and ferry on 31st August 2009 and in spite of heavy bank holiday vehicle loadings, the ferry services were coping well, with only marginal late running. The 19.25 sailing from Yarmouth Slipway to Lymington Pier even carried a traction engine and two trailers, returning from the Isle of Wight's Steam Railway Gala weekend!

The Branch Line was doing well also, with Slam-Door Unit 1497 in charge. There were roughly 20 passengers for the ferry off the 08.59 from Brockenhurst and and the same returning on the 20.14 from Lymington Pier.

Lymington Town Station was staffed during the morning and the latest Southern Vectis bus timetables were displayed along with all the free Hampshire CC bus/train guides.

As a side-point, anyone visiting Hampshire, would be wise to visit Lymington Town, as it is one of the most comprehensive displays of free TOURIST literature and public timetables I know of.

[class47]

Keep saying it, but we must get down there.