Train services on the Island Line on the Isle of Wight will be suspended next week, from Monday, 3rd to Friday, 7th July for staff training.

The closure is taking place so that staff can complete refresher training before the line through to Ryde Pier Head reopens on Monday, 10th July.

Whilst the trains are suspended, a rail-replacement bus service will operate from Ryde Esplanade to Shanklin, with two bus services per hour in both directions between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin.

Anyone intending to travel on the Island Line next week should check their journey on South Western Railway’s ‘Plan my Journey’ at https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey

At the same time, Network Rail will be continuing work on maintenance and improvements to strengthen Ryde Pier to extend its life by up to 60 years. That work means the line between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde Pier Head will also be closed, with the closure of that part of the line extending to Monday, 10th July.

During the closure of the line between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade trains will be replaced by a shuttle bus service. Further information can be found at https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/planned-improvements/ryde-pier

Ryde Pier is 686 metres long and was built between 1878 and 1880 by Victorian engineers. After nearly 150 years of harsh environmental conditions, parts of the structure were found to be deteriorating, requiring major refurbishment and repairs.

During the last 60 years, the pier has undergone several major and emergency repairs. When the pier was built it was divided into six zones, each with different types of construction.

As a result, engineers have been using various methods to repair the pier, including both partial replacement and complete refurbishment of the metal and timber structure.

A South Western Railway spokesperson said: “We’re looking forward to seeing trains running on Ryde Pier again, but to do so we must carry out refresher training with our colleagues, meaning we can’t run trains between Monday 3 and Friday 7 July.

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience that this planned closure will cause and would like to thank our customers for their continued patience.”