A half a mile long track dubbed as the UK’s only floating train line is finally ready to reopen to the public after nine long months of ‘intensive and complex’ repair work
Following nine months of ‘intensive and complex’ repairs, the UK’s only floating train line is finally set to reopen. The Island Line, located on the Isle of Wight, shut down in September last year to allow engineers to refurbish the Rhyde Pier while preserving its historic structure.
The half-a-mile long track connects Rhyde Pier Head and Shanklin, serving Smallbrook Junction, Brading, Sandown and Lake stations along the way. Upgrades will make both the pier and railway line more ‘resilient’ to extreme weather and ensure its services can run ‘safely and reliably for generations to come’.
Prior to the full reopening on Friday, May 2, the entire line will close from Saturday, April 26 to allow engineers to complete their ‘final preparations’ for the resumption of services. During this time, replacement buses will be operating instead of trains.
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In an online statement, George Murrell of Network Rail Wessex said: “I’m delighted that we’re going to be able to fully reopen the Island Line early and in time for the May Bank Holiday, which we know is a busy and important time for the Island’s tourism industry. We’re now on the home stretch of this work and while I know it will be disappointing, we will need to close the line for the week preceding the resumption of services to finish the final pieces of work, safety checks and prepare the railway for the first service early on Friday, May 2.”
Mark Dunn, Island Line general manager also hailed the new upgrades, adding: “The early reopening is due to the brilliant efforts of SWR and Network Rail colleagues, who have worked extremely hard since last September to make necessary repairs to Ryde Pier… We’re extremely grateful to our customers and Islanders for their patience while these important works were completed and look forward to welcoming them back for the full service soon.”
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In 2021, the Island Line was also closed for a £26 million transformation, which saw the old 1938 tube trains, which had served the Island since 1989, eased into retirement. The trains were replaced with a new 483 fleet fitted with upgraded interiors, plug sockets, wheelchair spaces and free WiFi.
“With five trains in service, there’s also greater flexibility to run longer trains at busier times, such as during the summer,” SWS said at the time. “A key benefit of the upgrade programme has been the installation of a new passing loop at Brading, which will enable us to increase service frequency as demand returns. We are progressing the plans to allow us to offer customers the choice of two trains per hour.”
Engineers also worked to adjust platform heights to reduce the gap between the train and the platform to improve accessibility. Electrical upgrades were also implemented to improve the ‘reliability and resilience of the line’.
“This beautiful island lies just off England’s south coast and less than two hours from London Waterloo across the stunning waters of the Solent,” hails SWS, which operates on the Island Line. “Now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (one of only six in the UK), the island is recognised as one of the best places in the world to explore the sustainable way people interact with their natural environment.”
You can view The Island Line’s full timetable here.
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