Island Line trains are finally running up Ryde Pier for the first time since October 2022 after maintenance work on the historic structure was completed over the weekend.
The railway line between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde Pier Head has been closed since October 2022 to allow engineers to strengthen the 686-metre-long Victorian pier that was built in 1880 to give it another 60 years of operational life.
It was originally hoped that the line would re-open in early Spring, but this was then pushed back to ‘late Spring’.
As the summer drew nearer, it was then hoped that access to Ryde Pier Head would be open and operational back in early June – in time for the 2023 Isle of Wight Festival. However, this never materialised either. Instead, the Pier opened on Saturday (8th July) – 2 days earlier than expected.
During the closure, a new weather screen has been installed at Ryde Pier Head station to protect customers from the elements, and engineers replaced 172 metres of track, installed 143 metres of new steel rail bearers, and repainted the station.
South Western Railway said the section will close again towards the end of the year to fully complete the work. However this hasn’t yet been given a date.
I am still confused how the Island Line can come under
South Western Railways, is the Island soon becoming part of
Dorset.
The Island is in the South East Region, since when as the Island been in the
South West of England.
U like chooo chooo trains too
Because Portsmouth Harbour is historically a SWR station, so IslandLine falls under their operation as opposed to Southern/Thameslink.
Great Western Railway operate out of Paddington, but it doesn’t mean London is now in Bristol!
I believe there were proposals for SWR to offload IslandLine to an independent operator, but these plans appear to have ended up on the back burner at least for now.
Both their customers must be cock-a-hoop
Are several drivers trained to drive on the pier as usually somebody is off sick?
This is very annoying for the ten people that use it each week.
Tarmac the bloody thing it’s not worth the money we spend on it