The introduction of the new Island Line trains has been welcomed by the Island’s MP and also the Council’s cabinet member for transport, as a new era of the Ryde-Shanklin service begins.
As reported by Island Echo this morning, the first passenger service for the new Class 484s departed Ryde St Johns at 05:35. Onboard were a number of enthusiasts and local stakeholders including councillors Chris Quirk, Michael Beston and Warren Drew who, alongside David Pugh, have campaigned to keep the Island Line operational over the past 6 years.
The £26million improvement scheme, which has been funded by the Department for Transport, Isle of Wight Council and Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, has seen the old 1938 tube trains replaced with the completely overhauled former 1970s London Underground stock, developed by Vivarail.
As with any major infrastructure project, there have been delays – 6 months to be precise. COVID, Brexit and software issues have been to blame and although the service is now up and running, today hasn’t gone without fault. Signalling issues caused some slight delays earlier in the day but the service is now back on track.
However, it has been confirmed that Island Line won’t be running the highly promoted 30-minute service just yet. Due to fewer passengers travelling in the winter months and Wightlink still running an hourly service on their Fastcat service, the decision has been taken to re-launch the Island Line service as an hourly operation. The new timetable is available here: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/timetables.
With a ticket to Ryde, Bob Seely MP, Councillor Phil Jordan (cabinet member for transport) and Rachael Randall (Solent LEP) have seen first-hand the improvements made to the service. Other local dignitaries included the Mayor of Ryde, Michael Lilley, and Councillor Ian Ward.
Claire Mann, South Western Railway’s Managing Director, who sadly couldn’t attend the launch today, has said:
“We are so excited to welcome our customers back onboard having completed the biggest upgrade to the Island Line in over 50 years.
Article continues below this advertisement “From new trains to improved stations, the long list of benefits that come with this upgrade will give a real boost to the Isle of Wight’s public transport infrastructure, connecting communities and making it easier for visitors to explore the Island.”
Bob Seely MP has said:
“I’m delighted that the new trains are finally now in operation, they have been a long time coming.
“When I was first elected as the Island’s MP in 2017 the future of Island Line was uncertain. Thanks to a team effort of local campaigners, members of the previous council administration, and myself, we persuaded government to underwrite this investment.
“I am grateful to South Western Railway and the government for listening to us and I am glad to see the upgrades finally come to fruition with this significant investment.
“This is another good day for the Island. We now have decent trains running on an improved track which will make travelling easier and more comfortable for Islanders and visitors.
“This improved service will give a boost to the Island’s tourist economy and allow visitors to continue to access the award-winning Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet through the interface at Smallbrook Junction.
“I look forward to seeing these trains carrying thousands of passengers over the coming year.”
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet Member for Highways PFI, Transport and Infrastructure, has said:
“It really is great news that the upgrade work to the rail line is complete and we have our new trains running, once again, to the end of the pier. This is positive news for those that depend on the rail link and is part of the wider improvements we are going to see at the Ryde Interchange in the near future.
“It’s been a long wait but I am sure that many people are delighted they can once again utilise the train service between Shanklin and Ryde Pier Head and any of the stations in between. The continuous connection with the mainland is a vital lifeline for our Island and supports our tourism, leisure and job destinations equally”
Rachael Randall, Solent LEP Director, adds:
“The re-opening of the Island Line is great news for the Isle of Wight, offering sustainable transport options which will benefit both commuters and visitors. I’m delighted the Solent LEP has helped make this possible through its Local Growth Deal investment and which, alongside improvements at Brading Station, will offer a viable, attractive and green travel solution for those visiting or living on the Island.”
It would have been nice if they kept amn accurate update on train times. Due to a lineside fire, no service at 4.59pm from Brading, no train going the other way and no information. An hourly service isn’t great, considering the investment. A half hourly service would be much more useful for us Islanders.
So better communication and a more regular service please.
To be fair, the live service tracker did correctly show the delays when the services were running late all day before the fire.
(I assume all the comments that have disappeared from this article all also delayed ether by the fire or due to unexpected Covid related issues)