The Island Line train service is suspended this weekend to enable engineering works on the network.
Network Rail has begun work on improving the railway line between Ryde and Shanklin ahead of the arrival of new trains later this year, which will come into service early in 2021.
Engineers are working in the Ryde area at present with whole sections of track being replaced, with other work underway including repairs to the footbridge at Ryde St Johns.
A machine known as a rail tamper has arrived on the Isle of Wight to assist with the works. This machine travels along the tracks, lifts the rails and levels the ballast underneath which helps to provide a comfortable, level ride.
A rail replacement bus service is in operation between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin, but buses are not serving Ryde Pier Head or Smallbrook Junction. Taxis are operating up and down the pier.
Buses will run between Ryde Esplanade and Havenstreet for passengers travelling to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
There will be further disruption later down the line as the network is enhanced for a new era of Island Line. As previously reported by Island Echo, the line will be shut for a period of 3 months between 4th January and 31st March 2021.
Wouldn’t happen if it were all tar mac’d.
Make a road, easy pressure on the Ryde to Shanklin route, it would take all the heavy traffic ruining Brading and congesting Lake.
That would actually increase road traffic like it has with the motorways where they have made the hard shoulder into a new lane. The more you create roads for cars the more cars are going to use it so when that road was busy they would start using the main road again!
Because roads don’t close for road works? You better let island roads know they don’t have to do that anymore!
Make it a road for BUSES only
How many buses would be needed to carry nearly 1 million passengers a year which islandline carried last year?
Who pays for the subsidy to run these buses? At the moment islandlines subsidy is paid for by the profitable routes SWR operate on the mainland.
We need to extend the Steam trains here, and have one old steam train converted to battery for regular Winter use, when tourist numbers ebb away, making such unprofitable to run such.
Need a huge cash injection, but would likely pay in the long term
Easier though for our council to just build making them rich via c.tax, and their ever grateful developers turning land at 10k an acre in land worth millions. Love to see inside the ‘thank you’ cards.
I agree. Also, if, as in other parts of the world, the new rolling stock had batteries and charged at each end of the line then would save money on not having to maintain the third rail. Regen braking will improve efficiency and allow them to run on the steam railways tracks too. Also solve the issue of the voltage drop they are suffering at the end of the line.
But like you say, would need a big cash injection. But done right this would form a project that could become a bench mark for other railways to follow.
I had the pleasure to meet the late David Green and talk to him about the plans he had for the island. If what he wished to do happened the island would be a shining light in renewable energy. A place where countries would come to study. Shame the council chose to destroy him and not support his vision of the islands future and putting it on the world stage.
Would also cost a large cash injection every time the batteries need changing which is why I believe it was disregarded from the island line plan.
This will be like The floating Bridge,