New rail service to the Isle of Purbeck

At last a more joyful event - after many years of hard work the first direct rail service left London for Swanage in the Isle of Purbeck today - 1st April. The last direct through train was in 1972 - since then the rail link was first ripped up and then, painstakingly relaid. The rail link was made back in 2002 when a Virgin Voyager paid a visit to Swanage - but 1st April 2009 was the date for the first through passenger working from the main line. An important event indeed.

DB Schenker Class 66 66152 heads the Purbeck Pioneer past Lymington Junction at Brockenhurst enroute to Swanage from London Victoria - 1st April 2009.

66152 arrives at Swanage with the Purbeck Pioneer

The initial service sold out so quickly a second train has been chartered for the 2nd April. Further main line link services will run with the first steam hauled services on 2nd and 4th May.
All being well, this will now be the start of regular passenger services to Swanage and, perhaps in a few years time, a regular timetabled service to the Jurassic Coast.

Trip to the Isle of Wight - don’t forget your passport

Yes, I know it is April 1st and the heading could well be taken as a joke.

Perhaps a rather sick joke as it appears that this could be the outcome if the Home Office include ferry travel to and from the Isle of Wight within domestic sea journeys for ant-terrorism purposes.

At the end of March the Home Office published its strategy for tackling the threat of terrorism which included:

“New police powers to collect advance passenger data on some domestic air and sea journeys and international freight movements are currently planned and subject to consultation.”

[p113, Pursue Prevent Protect Prepare - The United Kingdom’s Strategy for Countering International Terrorism - presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary]

There is indication of a review of the common travel area that currently allows travel between the Irish Republic, Channel Islands and the UK. When journalists asked questions about the implementation of ‘police powers to collect advance passenger data on some domestic air and sea journeys’ a Home Office spokesman indicated that this would include ferry travel to the Isle of Wight and to the Isle of Skye.

Now, I leave near Lymington with its new (and much larger) ferries to the Isle of Wight. Ferries leave every 30 minutes for a 30 minute crossing. Incidentally, thought to be the most expensive water crossing in the world!. The thought that passengers would have to provide details of name, address and date of birth before boarding is simply laughable. Not only are there the large car ferries that also carry foot passengers and passengers from the linking rail services (would passengers purchasing a through rail ticket to Yarmouth, in say Crewe, have to provide their details to the ticket office there before being issued with tickets?) there are also the smaller tourist services operating from Lymington Quay (Puffin Cruisers) - some of these provide landing on the Island. ID checks as you board the boat for a trip around the bay?

Imagine it - you arrive at the ferry for the crossing. You are asked to prove your ID - do you have a passport or photo-driving licence. Please join the UK/EU/EEA queue. Others - please join the non-EU queue and be prepared to wait. What do you mean you have not got your visa for return to the mainland?

It is not exactly as if the Isle of Wight has a direct ferry service to the Continent which might mean you could bypass normal immigration. It does not - services only run completely domestically, from the mainland to the island.

If it wasn’t in the Home Office document you would think it was an April Fool joke. Perhaps it still is - but one that some self-serving bureaucracy may see as a useful means of tracking travellers. And, of course, if that helps to prevent terrorism it must be a good thing. ROFL!