With just weeks left until they are pulled from service permanently, Island Line’s last 2 remaining trains have broken down and it may be over a week until the service resumes.
All trains between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin have been suspended since Friday morning when the last operational train ground to a halt.
As previously reported by Island Echo, maintenance works to the bridge at Ryde St John’s means that the service was always going to be suspended this weekend. However, the latest information available suggests that the trains will remain in the sidings until next Monday (14th December).
The 1930s former underground trains are due to continue running until 3rd January, when the line will then close for 3 months. New trains, which started to arrive on the Isle of Wight last month, will be fully up and running by May 2021. It begs the question as to whether the existing trains will come back into service at all…
South Western Railway have confirmed that a rail replacement bus service will be in operation from Monday until Friday (inclusive).
Buses will depart Ryde Bus Station at xx:57 each hour from 05:57 until 21:57. These buses will call at Ryde St John’s Road (station forecourt) at xx:03, Brading (Bull Ring) at xx:15, Sandown (Broadway/Station Avenue) at xx:22, Lake (by the shops) at xx:27 and Shanklin (Station forecourt) arriving at xx:32.
There will be one final bus departing Ryde Bus Station at 23:23, calling at Ryde St John’s Road only (arriving 23:28).
Buses will depart Shanklin at xx:52 each hour from 05:52 until 21:52. These buses will call at Lake (by the shops) at xx:56, Sandown (Broadway/Station Approach) at xx:01, Brading (Bull Ring) at xx:08, Ryde St John’s Road at xx:20 and arriving at Ryde Bus Station at xx:25.
There will be one final bus departing Shanklin at 22:40, Lake (by the Shops) at xx:44, Sandown (Broadway/Station Approach) at xx:49, Brading (Bull Ring) at xx:56, Ryde St John’s Road at xx:08 and arriving at Ryde Bus Station at xx:13.
There will also be one bus at 05:30 from Ryde St John’s Road, calling only at Ryde Bus Station (arriving 05:35).
Smallbrook Junction and Ryde Pier Head will not be served by any of these buses.
I shall be very sorry to see them go. Their rattling sound has been part of my entire life living near the track.
I hope they are well cared for in their retirement.
They served the island for so many years under tight budget controls and its been I guess a huge battle for all who worked on the island line to keep the line and old stock running! Its time to just shut the line down and get on with the refurbishment for the stations and track that way the Island can look forward to a whole new era!
No trains but thay are still charging the taxi drivers £300 each for the next twelve months, expensive car park for taxis…
I’m sure two runs from Newport to Shide will cover that at the prices the Island taxis charge.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely the work can commence any earlier as these projects have to be planned well in advance. It would be good for these great old warhorses to have one last hurrah over the New Year, as planned, so that we all have the opportunity to experience them one last time. Don’t forget your camera.
They do have another train almost ready to start work, hopefully they can finish it off this week….
Having worked on Island Line before they arrived and for a time after they arrived, i am amazed that they have lasted this long as there were always niggling issues with them.
As reported, they are down to the last two out of 8 trains and when they do stop running, i hope these last two find great homes.
Think one unit is earmarked for the Epping Ongar Railway, where it should be fully restored and run on battery power. This railway was once a part of the Central Line.
Ask the management of that heritage line about the p0rn film they made lol, makes great reading!
Blimey. I did not know about this. Thanks for the heads up.
I don’t suppose the great entitled superiority, what don’t live here, will notice the difference. Shame on them. 75per cent in my shop today escaping harsh measures.
Tell them the name of your shop and they’ll avoid it for you.