Due to staff absence, Island Line will be out of service from today (Monday) until Thursday (10th November) between the hours of 19:00 and 07:00.
The Island’s train network has been struggling with signaling staff issues for a little while now and had to suspend services over the weekend for a similar issue.
As a result of today’s announcement, anyone returning late home from the mainland or using the train to get home after work, as well as those doing the same in the morning, will have to find alternative travel arrangements.
A minibus bus service will operate between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade and a separate replacement bus service will run between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin.
Customers are advised to check the SWR or Island Line website for more information.
Island Line apologises for any inconvenience caused.





























































































This is unacceptable.how much more?
Pretty much most of the big transport has been cancelling with the totally bs feeble excuses.
WE ALL KNOW its just a cost cutting stunt for the companies.
You deserve zero customers after all gone on
Staff seem to have more sick days than work days
I truly feel sorry for anyone who has to rely on the islands public transport infrastructure.
What the hell has gone wrong with this country.
Tarmac the lot and then get electric battery shuttle buses which most can drive without expensive maintenance crews signal staff etc etc
No need to apologise, just sort it out !!!!!!
All the money spent on this line now the 2nd elephant in the room, as bad as the non floating heap of junk !!!!
Though at this rate it could possibly overtake it ……
Maybe you could go to the job centre and train ( no pun intended ) new staff ,so as 2 keep the trains running !!!!!
When someone hands in their notice, the position is advertised. This advertisement has to run for an agreed time. Applications are then sifted, assessments are then completed, interviews are then held and finally a person is selected pending a medical.
Said person then has to hand notice into their current employer (normally 4 weeks). New employee then has to go away for training. This takes 3 months.
Everyone’s got a totally unrealistic idea as to how the system works but happy to chip off and inadvertently play into the hands of IE who are singlehandedly trying to destroy transport networks across the island by suggesting the issues faced here are somehow different to the mainland or any other working environment.
They should obviously train their staff to multi task.
Why are there always staff issues on the trains I.o.w
Because the pay isn’t comparable with mainland roles. Why would a qualified Signaller work in Ryde, when they could work in Havant for £15k more. Same with Drivers – IOW train driver £40k, mainland train driver £62k+.
Island journey is hardly comparable to the mainland. Guessing possibly 10 miles, some one will say, so why do they expect mainland rates?
The length on the line is irrelevant. They are still driving/managing the train for the same amount of hours per shift. Same training, same assessments, same risks.
Hardly expect the same wage for running the equivalent of a miniature railway line
Does anyone work on this island, can anyone multi task in this so called railway..
What the hell is happening to the British work force??..absolute joke, that’s why immigration is so high, because we are bloody lazy and think we are entitled to everything..
Why not train more staff.I’m retired and available!!
They are… why do you presume they are not?
If there is just one train running, why do we need signal staff? They do not need to operate the points as the are of the “sprung variety” at
To continue, the four points,Ryde Esplanade, Smallbrook, Brading and Sandown do not need a singnalman. Stock can be stored overnight on the main line at St.Johns Rd avoiding point switching from the sidings. So why need a signlman? Come on SWR how about a bit of “lateral thinking” instead of the usual apologies.
If you think that’s the only role of a Signaller, I suggest you don’t apply for the position. It couldn’t be further from the truth.
Scrap it and clear all that junk of the pier. Make it into a cycle track or a bus lane.
Lack of signalling staff? No worries. Just have one train running back and forth between Shanklin and Brading, the other between Brading and the pier head. Through passengers can just change at Brading. No need for signalling staff. Simples.
I’m not surprised, maybe a jab recipient
Did the staff drown in the floods??
I like choooo choooo trains
So pay them a decent wage. There is no staff shortage, just a shortage of companies willing to pay enough to make the job worth the money.
You must be joking have you seen their wages!!