THE FUTURE of rail travel on the Island including possible extensions to Newport and Ventnor will come under the spotlight at a public meeting on Thursday (December 14).

Campaign group, KILF (Keep Island Line in Franchise) are staging the meeting at Shanklin Theatre in partnership with the Isle of Wight Bus and Rail Users Group (IWBRUG).

Other attendees at the meeting include the Island's MP, Bob Seely, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and local councillors.

As previously reported, the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, recently announced that rail lines closed in the 1960s due to the Beeching cuts could be re-opened.

His remarks prompted Mr Seely to ask whether rail routes shut on the Island in the 1960s could run again.

The meeting is open to any members of the public with an interest in the future of railway provision on the Island. The topics being covered will include South Western Railway's proposals for Island Line, and the proposed consultation response on behalf of the local community (deadline 31st December 2017); future plans for the IW Steam Railway; improving interconnectivity between the two lines and links with cross-Solent travel and possible future extensions to Newport and Ventnor.

Peter Vail, IWSR's General Manager said: "We welcome the opportunity to share our plans for the future at next week's meeting. The Steam Railway is an important part of the Island's heritage - and will continue to play a prominent role in the tourism offer. We are enthused at the prospect of enhancing railway provision on the Isle of Wight, with increased footfall for - and interconnectivity between - both us and Island Line, with the possibility of a shared presence at Ryde St John's station."

In a significant step, the Steam Railway have also confirmed that they are willing to consider the possibility of

opening up their existing route to public passenger trains, subject to there being no diminution in their ability to continue delivering a successful heritage railway.

Speaking in response, Bob Seely MP said: "As I highlighted in the House of Commons last week, the Steam Railway had the foresight to secure track when the Newport-Ryde route closed many decades ago. I welcome the willingness of the team at Havenstreet to consider the possible use of their existing route to support a future extension to Newport, which is also one of their own ambitions. This public meeting provides an opportunity to confirm the Island's desire to see its existing railway routes interconnected, as a first step towards increased usage (and possible extension) of both lines for the benefit of Island Line, the Steam Railway and their customers. It is my intention to take these ideas forward with the Government in the New Year, and I look forward to the input of residents at next week's meeting to inform my approach."