MP ANDREW Turner has welcomed a government commitment to Island Line but has said a £3 million subsidy into the Isle of Wight service is unsustainable.
Mr Turner said he was pleased that the franchise awarding process was now over following the news that a joint venture between First Group and Chinese firm, MTR, will operate the railway until August 2024.
Mr Turner said: "Now that the franchising process is over, we can all start to move forward.
"I very much welcome the government’s commitment to finding a sustainable way forward for the Island Line service. They have never said there can be no subsidy, but it is clearly unsustainable to continue putting £3 million a year into this service.
"The new operators have been tasked with working with the Isle of Wight Council and with elections in the offing, clearly nothing concrete can be done before those are over."
He added: "The Government actively encouraged the Isle of Wight Council to set up an independent task force to look at the Island’s future transport needs in a holistic way. To their credit, the Island Independent Group did that and I understand the task force’s first report will be published shortly after the elections in May.
"That will be an important document to open a dialogue with the new operators and the government and I will certainly be taking part in those discussions.
"This is an opportunity for the Island to get some innovative thinking and some serious investment into our transport infrastructure. I hope that all involved will try to find a constructive way forward and make the most of this opportunity."