A train that was submerged in flood water during last year’s stormy weather will return to the tracks this week, at the same time that Island Line further tests a 4-car operation. 484001 – which was the first Class 484 train to arrive on the Isle of Wight – was left sitting in flood water when the Ryde St John’s depot flooded back in October. Drivers were unable to move the rolling stock quickly enough, which left the underside of the train and all of its electronic equipment and running gear in dirty water. Since then, Island Line engineers have been stripping out the necessary parts, repairing them and reinstalling them. At the same time, the out-of-service train has been used as a source of spares. Admissions have been made to Island Echo that Island Line has struggled to acquire a number of parts for the new trains, so 001 was cannibalised to keep the other trains going. Now, bosses say that the situation has been resolved and 001 is being recommissioned to bring Island Line back up to a 5-train fleet. Islanders can expect to see 484001 back on the tracks this week and it should be fully operational within a matter of days. It has also been confirmed that part of this week’s testing will be centred around bringing about a 4-car operation on Island Line. Neil Drury, Engineering & Infrastructure Director at South Western Railway, has said that the firm’s view is to run a 4-car operation in the high season, if not this year then certainly in 2025. 
Speaking to Island Echo last week, Neil said:
“The manufacturer [of the trains, Vivarail] went into administration a few years ago and as a result, we’ve had to pick up the work that it left. Part of that is modifying the electronics equipment to work as it was always intended to including the electronic braking which we haven’t got at the moment. “All of those modifications mean we have to retest the 4-car operation. We are doing that this week with a view to, if not this year then certainly next year, running a 4-car operation in the high season. That is why we ordered 5 trains, so that we could run 2x 4-cars”.
This is great news 🙂
Announced just in time for a one month full closure followed by passengers arriving on the fastcat making their way off the pier on foot in the rain (taxis frequently not here) until next May. And following on from his admission that a 30-minute schedule is not and never was possible, despite this being one of the main reasons for shutting the entire railway for months for the new trains – bought from a company who have gone bust! The incompetence of island railways never ceases to amaze me
The 1 month closure will allow for the testing of equipment to allow for potential 4 car service, as well as fixing bridges that have been neglected for years. The main reason for closure was infact to undertake much needed line infrastructure works and upgrades. Not for the sole purpose of a 30 minute time table. Have you ever factored in that you don’t know the full details nor do you understand the rationale for the changes? Just a thought before making inaccurate comments.
Maybe check your facts and ability to read. Where did I say the promised but not possible timetable had anything to do with the closure? Funnily enough the entire railway was shut when the new trains were being prepared. What an ideal time to fix the bridges! As you’re probably a South Western Railway employee maybe you should see it from the viewpoint of passengers. The railway has had constant closures over the last few years and has been terribly unreliable. SWR promised a 30-minute timetable but have now admitted it’s not possible. Is that simple enough for you?
Big mistakes were made but to be fair Network Rail are responsible for major renewals not SWR, the original closure was only meant to last a few months and there are logistical issues – it was impractical to address the entire infrastructure backlog all at once.
Please please please can we just stop being so negative alllll the timmmmee on this island it’s soooo depressinggggg
Not an employee at all. I just get fed up of people ranting about a service that had been left for years and years with no maintenance. Now this well overdue maintenance is being carried out people winge that there’s closures and unexpected changes. As a passenger, i do understand the frustrations, but ultimately the work needs doing.
Wow! 2 x 4 car trains. That’s going to need another pay rise!
Drivers haven’t had a pay rise. Not sure where you’re getting your information from. Bit embarrassing.
Pure greed. £60k for trundling a few miles of track , with the only hazard’ likely to be a squashed fox, a bit of graffiti from the Oakfield artists, or the old care in the community type emanating from the same estate to litter up the line due to drug infused mind
Get back to work or Ivy will be on your case and seemingly rightfully so
Please do show me an island line driver on £60k. The only ones on that amount of money are management. Station avenue in Sandown is closing for 2 months, haven’t seen you complain about this!
They ain’t far off it now
IslandLine drivers aren’t on anywhere near £60k! Mainline suburban and intercity drivers are the only ones on £60k+. I had to move to the mainland to earn that sort of money!
They have, massive one too
How can anyone justify a wage unless they have done the job? Apply if you want the same wage or are envious of it. Hopefully you can pass the assessments and subsequent training then the unsociable hrs , no payrise though if you make it as you’ll already be getting enough!
If the intention was to run a “2×4-cars service”, then SWR should have ordered a minimum of six 2-car trains, so that you can prolong their life by rotating them, as well as providing a full train service when one 4-car train is being serviced or repaired. Mind you, a reliable 2-cars service should be the first target.
The refurbishment was done on the cheap (the line struggles to wash its face financially).
Not that anyone expected Vivarail to cease trading (remnants now owned by GWR: battery trains for a number of low frequency branches), but this is the challenge of operating a niche fleet rather than buying a more commodity new vehicle from a competent manufacturer with solid financials that could supply spares quickly.
Would have been better to rebuild the line with modern tram vehicles (potentially street running in Ryde to avoid the tunnel) would have been better but significantly more costly.
Or reusing the right of way as a guided busway with electric buses and higher frequency.
The 2-train every 30 minute departure was never really possible. The old steam trains in the 1920’s were pretty fast and would do Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head in 30 minutes, todays trains have additional stops at Lake and Smallbrook and take 28 minutes which is good going but is impossibly tight at two minutes to begin the return journey.
Hand it over to the Isle of Wight steam railway and turn it back to a steam train attraction. Not only would it be run more reliably but would be a massive tourist draw as well.
What a lovely idea. Just supposing IWSR did want to take it on (which they don’t btw) the travelling public could look forward to an operating day between about 10:00 and 17:00 4 or 5 days a week (outside of the high season) with a 3 month closed period each year. Oh and you do realise steam locos do fail from time to time, as does the infrastructure. But what a magnificent sight it would be to see a steam train on Ryde Pier once again.
4 car testing?
didnt the steam trains run more cars?
h and s gone mad