Island Line is back in operation after nearly 10 months of improvement works, with the first fare-paying passengers travelling on the brand new Class 484 trains this morning (Monday).
Carriages 001 and 004 were used as a 4-car train for the 05:35 from Ryde St Johns, which made its first call at Ryde Esplanade at 05:39. The service went on to Ryde Pier Head and then back down the line arriving at Shanklin for 06:10.
A number of enthusiasts and local stakeholders enjoyed the first journey up and down the line, which comes 26 months after the major improvement of Island Line was first announced.
The new trains significantly improve the customer experience, with upgrades ranging from better interiors to plug sockets, free WiFi and wheelchair spaces. Each station has also been upgraded, as has the core infrastructure.
It’s said that the £26million project has taken longer to complete than first anticipated due to several factors including train testing complications, the pandemic and even the flash flooding experienced in early August.
A total of 5x 2-car trains have been built by Warwickshire-based Vivarail, completely overhauling former 1978 London Underground District Line trains into modern Class 484s.
Passengers have been eagerly awaiting the introduction of the Class 484s and the return of Island Line. The last Class 483 train ran on 3rd January having completed more than 30 years service’ here having operated on the London Underground since 1938.
Well done and congratulations to Ryde TCD and all at Islandline Trains. Hopefully a frustration free future for you all.
Late running and cancelations all day!!
It won’t take long before its out of service again..
Yep, I was right, the train broke down around 8.30am but it now running again….
Its not chitty chitty bang bang it can’t fly
Trains need tracks
To all the haters giving you thumbs down, you were of course right, let’s get our smug faces on then, as the laugh is on them!
Can someone please explain why it does not cover the entire Island, or goes to like Newport or Cowes? I really don’t understand. :/
The Beeching report in the 1960’s was the reason that MANY miles of railway track was taken out of service. In fact, more miles of track were taken out of service before the Beeching Axe was wielded!
Age old argument of uneconomic lines and lack of passenger numbers.
Count yourself lucky that the Island has ANY railway at all!
So the Island Line loses money to the tune of a few million a year. Who in their right mind would expend another 20+ million on compulsory purchase orders to buy up land to lay down infrastructure, buy trains and pay even more staff to lose even more money. If you owned a restaurant that lost money hand over fist, you wouldn’t open more restaurants would you?
Because the tracks are only between Ryde and Shanklin. Kind of obvious really!!
No track I believe going there.
They don’t run to Cowes and Newport because the line was closed. 60 years ago.
Not enough room on the roads…
because the track only goes as far as Shanklin, Newport and all other stations were removed in the ’60’s.
because dr beeching cut many of the rail lines around the country
they are looking to reinstate lines on the island again now!
They were axes under the Beeching. Most of that route is now covered under housing, offices and industrial buildings. The line has received funding to further investigate possibly reopening the line to Ventnor and to Newport (Newport option will either be via Havenstreet or Merstone).
Retarded
Look above i put my coment in the wrong place
Ah okay thank you for those telling me it was unviable/closed 60 years ago. I was just asking a question and was actually curious, asking for answers from people who know more than me about it. Didn’t know so many defensive Island loving snowflakes would interpret it as an attack on the Island(this comment is an attack on some of the commenters on this thread, you know who you are you losers). Next time I will remain quiet. Then again maybe I should of worded my question better.
I bet you are glad you moved off. I would do anything to do that
You can man, it took me going to university in my mid-twenties to do it but I am a much happier, less hateful and richer person emotionally than I was before I moved. I felt like a plant that needed repotting because I had outgrown it. You can do it too, just got to take that huge leap into the unknown and take a chance on yourself. I remember when I realised “No one is coming for you.”. Just wish I realised that earlier.
But you miss being here don’t you?
Or you wouldn’t bother using IE
I moved here 20 odd years ago and would never move back to the mainland.
Well, the service is half back. Still only hourly (although not mentioned in the IE puff-piece) and can’t run the promised 30-minute service until the Brading loop is available. When will that be? Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen…
Already is up and running… Platform 1 can run bi-directional for hourly service. Platform 2 can only run down services for 30 minute or possibly 20 minute services.
Just noticed the new service is now running over 10 minuets late. The 12:45 cat to Portsmouth left on time without any train passengers on it at all. They now all have a 55 minuet wait for the next one.
How do you spell minute???
Depends how fast your fingers are.
I think the new trains look great.bright,modern warm and comfortable
Much much better than the cold uncomforable noisy old rattling rust buckets we have been subjected to for years
Hope they have all the ‘important ‘ staff in place, maybe they have migrated from the ferry’s?
Let’s see how they did…
26 Million? For real? Shameful amount of money. Should have kept with buses. They have worked brilliantly with no carnations or delays. Much more reliable and safe, smooth service.
Carnations you want flowers too?
lol! for 26 million I expect them handed out to passengers every day!
Silly question , can wheelchair users use the new trains?