South Western Railway (SWR) services resume this morning (Monday 7 October) following a month-long closure of the Island Line while engineers completed a comprehensive programme of critical maintenance.
Over the past month, a wide range of important maintenance work has been jointly undertaken by Network Rail and SWR. This has included:
- Laying 110m of new track through Ryde Esplanade station with composite sleepers which are more resilient to this coastal environment and will last for at least 60 years
- Installing around 48 new rail bearers over 65m from the end of Ryde Esplanade toward Ryde Pierhead and amending signalling (the railways traffic lights) to enable train services to resume running between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin
- Realigning the track through Ryde Esplanade station to reduce the gap between the train and platform, and renewing part of the track at Smallbrook Junction
- Replacing the bridge decks at both Park and Rink Road bridges, and bridge repairs in Sandown
- Renovations to the historic footbridge at Brading.
Following the conclusion of this first of a two-part closure, train services have resumed running, operating every 30 minutes between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin. The first service will be the 06.01 from Ryde Esplanade to Shanklin.
All attention now turns to continuing work to repair and preserve the historic Ryde Pier structure, which began in October 2022. The pier will remain closed to trains until it is expected to reopen in early May 2025, in time for the summer holiday season.
During this time, in order to maintain connections with ferry services, a minibus shuttle service will operate between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade.
Engine Problems Lead To Yarmouth RNLI Callout To Osborne Bay
Ryde Academy Students Donate To Two Worthy Causes At Christmas
Road Improvement Works To Get Underway From The Very Start Of The New Year
Isle of Wight Youth Trust Benefits From Big Give Support
Council Chair 'Furious' Over Floating Bridge Replacement Fiasco
Fire Service Travel To Island Contributes To Huge Budget Overspend
Department Approaching Completion In Ryde As Opening Date Announced
Guidance Issued Over Sharps Disposal As Waste Teams At Risk
Police Warnings Over E-Scooters Ahead Of Christmas Day
Controversial Freshwater Housing Proposal Turned Down
Rare Mantis Shrimp Discovery Made In Waters Off Isle Of Wight
Man In 50s Confirmed Dead Following Newport Crash
Pedestrian In Hospital With Serious Injuries Following Early Morning Motorcycle Crash
Cowes Stately Home To Have Facilities Upgraded As Part Of Approved Renovation
Ofsted Deliver Glowing Report For 'Welcoming' And 'Highly Ambitious' Island Primary School
Help Available For Islanders To Cut Energy Bills
Cowes Lifeboat Performs Mid-Solent Rescue Of Fishing Boat
Christmas Shopping With A Difference In Ryde – Half A Mile Out To Sea!
Home-From-Home' Nursery Given 'Outstanding' Ofsted Grade
