I attended the introduction of the new trains from Ryde Pierhead and Shanklin on Monday, 1st November and it is good to have this line back in operation. It was in 1967, when the last (re-vamped) London Underground trains were introduced and they served Ryde and IW for along time and now it is the start of a new era. I am keen to see a strengthening of a working relationship with South West Trains.

The IWC Cabinet approved the Ryde Interchange last week and this included 20 changes put forward through the consultation process.

Ryde Interchange: Cabinet approve go ahead (onthewight.com)

I lobbied for better visualisations of the plans as the drawings just did not give Ryde residents the picture of what the changes would look like. I am making sure through Ryde Town Council and IWC, that the scheme is adapted to be very green and really enhance the experience of walking and cycling from Western Gardens to Appley Park and do everything to make this a really green corridor. The Interchange is a real opportunity for tourists and visitors to walk down the pier and see up Union Street and then walk there and enjoy the emerging businesses/eclectic shops on Union and High Street. Already a fantastic programme of events are emerging in 2022 including the re-introducing of the Slide in Ryde.