Following their one-month suspension, Island Line train services on the Isle of Wight resumed this morning, Monday, 7th October, after engineers completed critical maintenance.
The work , which was jointly undertaken by Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR), included:
- Laying 110 metres of new track through Ryde Esplanade station. The new track is laid on composite sleepers which are more resilient to a coastal environment and expected to last for at least 60 years.
- Installing 48 new rail bearers over 65 metres from the end of Ryde Esplanade Station towards Ryde Pierhead.
- Modifying the signalling so train services can resume running between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin.
- Realigning track through Ryde Esplanade station to reduce the gap between trains and the platform.
- Renewing track at Smallbrook Junction.
- Replacing bridge decks at Park and Ring Road bridges, and repairing a bridge in Sandown
- Renovating the historic footbridge at Brading.
Completing that work will enable work to resume on repairing and preserving the structure of Ryde Pier.
That started in October 2022, since when the line Between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde Pierhead has been closed to trains, but is expected to reopen early next May 2025.
Whilst the line is closed a minibus shuttle service will operate between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade.
“We’re delighted to have completed an important programme of maintenance on the Island Line over the past month, alongside our SWR colleagues.
Tom McNamee, Network Rail Wessex Route Infrastructure Director
“Our focus now switches to Ryde pier and the continuation of life extension work, which is a complex project that will close that section of the line until May 2025. During the closure, a minibus service will run between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade. Trains will run between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin every 30 minutes.
Neil Drury, South Western Railway Engineering and Infrastructure Director
“We know just how important the Island Line is to our customers and the local business of the Island, so once again we would like to thank them for their continued patience.”
Responses
It used to be very exciting when the O2 s used to thunder onto the pier and the pier tram was running on the other side.