FERRY bosses have warned Hampshire could lose a historic service boasting the oldest pier train in Britain following the introduction of a rival commuter route.

It is feared a new bus service between Hythe pier and Southampton Central station run by South-West Trains could mean the end of the line for the Hythe-Southampton ferry.

The half-hourly ferry linking the New Forest with the city's Town Quay boasts a still-operating electric train built during the First World War but has suffered major funding problems in the past before a rescue package was agreed five years ago.

Financing the service has remained a problem ever since.

Now Lloyd Lay, managing direc-tor of Swindon-based White Horse Ferries Ltd, which took over the operation of the ferry in June 1994, fears it may not be able to carry on if the new route attracts away more passengers.

He said: "It's going to be very damaging and can take business away from the ferry.

"The ferry went into liquidation in 1993 due to lack of passengers and we have put in an awful lot of work and effort since then.

"But two things could put us at risk of liquidation again: a competitive rather than integrated alterna-tive service and a failure to raise enough funds to keep the pier.

"We need to build up the number of customers to keep it viable and we need to restore the pier as it is the basic infrastructure needed if the ferry is to operate.

"The whole essence of Hythe has been built up around the ferry and pier and this has been a real kick in the teeth.

"South-West trains should offer a complementary service rather than a competitive one. We need to find a way to work in har-mony rather than have the already threatened service put under more pressure."

The new bus route, introduced at the end of May, calls at Hythe and Dibden Purlieu before heading straight for Southampton Central Station and offers passengers the opportunity to purchase their rail tickets while onboard.

South-West Trains spokeswoman Alison Flynn said: "I understand that the ferry people have concerns but the link was not set up in competition.

"It's there to provide an alternative and complementary service. We feel there's more than one market there and those who choose to take the ferry won't necessarily be those who take the bus."

She added that a meeting had been set up later in the week with Mr Lay to discuss his concerns.

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