Island Line
An Island Line Class 484 at Shanklin in 2022
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerSouth Western Railway
LocaleIsle of Wight
Termini
Service
TypeCommunity railway
Operator(s)Island Line
Depot(s)Ryde
Rolling stockBritish Rail Class 484
History
Opened5 April 1880
Closed3 January 1967 (temporarily)
Reopened1 April 1967
Closed3 January 2021 (temporarily)
Reopened1 November 2021
Technical
Line length8+1⁄2 mi (13.7 km)
Number of tracksMixture of single and double track
CharacterFully grade separated except foot crossings
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Loading gaugeW6[1]
Route availabilityRA 1[1]
Electrification750 V DC third rail[2] (660 V DC[1] before January 2021)
Operating speed45 mph (72 km/h)
Route map

(Click to expand)

The Island Line is a railway line on the Isle of Wight which runs along the island's east coast and links Ryde Pier Head with Shanklin. Trains connect at Ryde Pier Head with passenger ferries to Portsmouth Harbour, and these ferries in turn connect with the rest of the National Rail network via the Portsmouth Direct Line. The line also connects to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, a heritage railway, at Smallbrook Junction. For much of its length the line runs alongside the A3055, criss-crossing this road by means of the Ryde Tunnel and bridges at Rowborough, Morton Common, Lake Hill and Littlestairs.

Route

Island Line, Isle of Wight
mi-ch
ferries to Portsmouth
0-00
 Ryde Pier Head
Ryde Pier
0-32
Ryde Esplanade
Hovercraft to Southsea
tunnel under Ryde
396 yd
362 m
B3330 St John's Road
1-19
 Ryde St John's Road
Ryde depot
2-17
 Smallbrook Junction
Isle of Wight Steam Railway
to Havenstreet & Wootton
A3055
to Bembridge
4-55
 Brading
Sandown Road
A3055
to Newport and Cowes
Sandown sidings
6-42
 Sandown
A3055
7-24
 Lake
A3055
8-29
 Shanklin
Down arrow closed 1966
 Wroxall
tunnel under
St Boniface Down
 Ventnor
A Class 483 unit in service in London Transport livery at Ryde Esplanade

The line starts at Ryde Pier Head station,[lower-alpha 1] which is located at the sea end of Ryde Pier and connects with cross−Solent ferry services to/from Portsmouth Harbour operated by Wightlink. The station has an island platform with two platform faces and two tracks,[3] although only the western track (and thus only one platform face) remains in passenger use. From here, the line runs along the pier's eastern side towards the shore before reaching Ryde Esplanade station[lower-alpha 2] at the other end of the pier. Located north of Ryde's town centre, Esplanade station is the busiest of the three stations in the town;[4] it forms part of the town's main transport interchange along with the nearby Ryde Bus Station (offering bus services to the rest of the island)[5] and Ryde Hoverport (with cross−Solent hovercraft connections to and from Southsea).[6] The station has one side platform in operation; a second platform, which was converted into a garden in 2015, lies adjacent to the disused track.

Although the line along the pier appears to be a typical double-track line, the eastern track is no longer connected to the rest of the line, having been cut off during the 2021 upgrade works. Prior to that, there was no crossover between the two tracks until immediately south of Esplanade station, meaning they were de facto two separate single-track lines,[3] a layout similar to those at Bare Lane,[7] Glenrothes with Thornton[8] and Worcester Foregate Street[9] stations.

South of Esplanade station, both tracks are operational. The line continues as double-track through Ryde via the Ryde Tunnel, bypassing the town centre to the northeast, before it reaches Ryde St John's Road station[lower-alpha 3] to the east of the town centre. The station has a total of three platforms[3] linked by a footbridge, two of which are in regular use by passenger services. The third platform, while open, is a south-facing bay platform,[3] meaning only the few terminating services can stop there. Adjacent to St John's Road station is Ryde depot − the only traction maintenance depot on the line.

The line then leaves Ryde and continues southwards, reducing to single-track immediately north of the next station, Smallbrook Junction.[lower-alpha 4] This station is unique on the National Rail network in that there is no public access into or out of the station − it exists purely as an interchange between the Island Line and the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.[10][11] The station was built in 1991 − the same year that the steam railway was extended to this location. Despite the station's name there is no longer an actual junction here, as the two railway lines are not physically connected to each other.[3]

The next station on the line is Brading,[lower-alpha 5] which has two platforms connected by a footbridge and a foot crossing at the southern end of the station, as well as a passing loop which allows trains running in opposite directions to pass each other. The original passing loop was closed and lifted in 1988, but was reinstated and brought back into use in 2021 as part of the line improvement programme; the second platform and the footbridge between the two platforms had been mothballed throughout this closure. The line then continues in a southwesterly direction towards Sandown station,[lower-alpha 6] which has retained its passing loop;[3] the station's two platforms are connected by a subway.

Beyond Sandown, the line is single-track for the remainder of the route.[3] The penultimate station on the line is Lake,[lower-alpha 7] opened in 1987, and the line terminates just over a mile later at Shanklin station.[lower-alpha 8] Shanklin also used to have a second platform, which is now used as a flowerbed. Until 1966, the line continued further south to Wroxall and Ventnor (see History below).

The full line, from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin, is 8 miles 31 chains (13.5 km) long.[3]

Services

As of April 2023, train services on the line run every 30 minutes in each direction between Ryde and Shanklin, calling at all intermediate stations except (usually) Smallbrook Junction.[12] This frequency has been made possible by an additional passing loop installed at Brading during the 2020–2021 upgrade works;[13] prior to the upgrade, services ran at an alternating 20/40-minute frequency.

Smallbrook Junction station is only open on days when the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is operating; when open, the station is served by up to nine trains per day in each direction between 10:30 and 17:00.[14]

Passenger numbers

Passengers at Island Line Stations 2002 to 2021.

After privatisation, passenger numbers rose steadily from an estimated 1.21 million in 1997–1998 to an estimated 1.61 million in 2006–2007.[4]

After the merger of the Island Line and South West Trains franchises in 2007, Island Line passenger numbers fell slightly from an estimated 1.61 million in 2006–2007 to an estimated 1.53 million in 2009–2010. They peaked again at an estimated record 1.67 million in 2011–2012, but since then fell to an estimated 1.31 million in 2014–2015. This was the lowest annual estimate since 1998–1999, and suggests passenger numbers fell by 22% in four years.[4]

Station usage
Station name 2002–03 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020-21 2021-22
Ryde Pier Head 116,652 121,387 116,812 149,226 193,714 210,604 210,604 235,156 223,542 217,272 209,734 218,060 218,410 210,006 211,794 204,154 181,060 26,300 68,646
Ryde Esplanade 431,636 453,314 456,944 489,372 442,861 396,358 360,650 392,020 364,780 328,366 301,660 289,574 281,344 277,176 258,784 247,152 220,384 46,880 86,876
Ryde St John's Road 140,242 160,891 175,208 178,869 178,914 190,796 200,976 240,046 251,694 229,450 202,188 184,924 180,220 179,822 156,850 132,174 116,138 21,058 38,994
Smallbrook Junction 2,995 3,087 2,716 2,965 4,363 9,672 10,170 11,472 11,478 10,832 11,408 11,230 12,134 12,768 12,670 12,920 12,352 1,268 4,658
Brading 73,546 66,932 69,074 68,841 60,680 65,794 61,406 63,872 67,840 60,540 55,594 50,954 43,846 48,500 45,848 42,170 32,842 4,276 10,410
Sandown 244,876 242,564 254,040 265,499 264,784 264,126 256,890 271,282 297,722 273,118 240,766 203,143 194,276 183,488 162,310 150,748 123,126 23,936 46,860
Lake 78,279 77,995 76,364 71,465 69,350 67,162 67,584 67,656 77,772 71,566 61,840 53,006 42,310 53,786 47,602 43,236 37,574 4,378 11,574
Shanklin 329,887 341,826 345,020 382,842 368,776 358,658 338,612 345,844 373,006 352,134 318,410 294,698 293,654 291,346 275,076 260,016 226,746 49,110 83,326
The annual passenger usage is based on sales of tickets in stated financial years from Office of Rail and Road estimates of station usage. The statistics are for passengers arriving and departing from each station and cover twelve-month periods that start in April. Methodology may vary year on year. Usage from the periods 2019-20 and especially 2020-21 onwards have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic

History

Pre-grouping (1864–1923)

The line from Ryde St John's Road to Shanklin was opened on 23 August 1864, having been built by the Isle of Wight Railway. In 1866, the line was extended through to Ventnor. The line was originally built as single track throughout, with passing loops provided at Brading, Sandown and Shanklin stations.

In 1880, the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) and London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) opened a jointly-owned line north from Ryde St John's Road. Under the direction of LBSCR Chief Engineer Frederick Banister,[15] the building of the extension included a new tunnel and a third Ryde Pier to enable the line to reach Ryde Pier Head, which provided a connection with the companies' ferry services. When the LBSC/LSWR joint line opened, it was as a double track section from Ryde St John's Road station through to Ryde Pier Head. There was a scissors crossover situated on Ryde Pier to allow trains to access all platforms. Sets of crossovers were installed at St John's Road to enable trains to change from the joint line's left-hand running to the single-track sections on the Isle of Wight Central Railway's Newport line and the Isle of Wight Railway's Shanklin line (now known as the Island Line).[16]

Southern Railway (1923–1948)

Following the Railways Act 1921, the Island Line and the other railways on the Isle of Wight became part of the Southern Railway. In 1926, crossovers and a signalbox were installed at Smallbrook Junction to extend double track operation from St John's Road. However, the signalbox was used only in the summer when traffic levels were high. In winter, the two lines from Smallbrook to St. John's Road reverted to independent single track operation.[16]

In 1927,[16] the passing loops at Brading and Sandown were connected to form a second section of double track.

British Rail (1948–1996)

British Rail Class 485 485045 at Shanklin, in the late 1980s Network SouthEast livery with Ryde Rail branding
BR Class 485 train traversing Ryde Pier

In 1948, the Southern Railway was nationalised, as part of British Railways, later British Rail. The line from Shanklin to Ventnor closed in April 1966. Steam trains were withdrawn from Ryde Pier on 17 September, and the whole line on 31 December 1966. While the line was closed, the trackbed in Ryde Tunnel was raised to reduce flooding and decrease gradients,[17] the rebuilding of Ryde Pier Head station was completed, and Ryde Esplanade station was also substantially modified. The line reopened in March 1967 following its electrification with a 660 V DC third rail system.[1][18][19] The rolling stock introduced to the line was former London Underground 'Standard Stock', which had been built between 1923 and 1934, and was designated as British Rail Classes 485 and 486.[20] In the 1980s, British Rail was sectorised and the line became part of the Network SouthEast sector. Services on the line were branded as Ryde Rail.

British Rail opened two new stations on the line - Lake in 1987, and Smallbrook Junction in 1991, which links to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

The double track between Sandown and Brading, along with the Brading passing loop, were removed in 1988. In 1989, the passenger service was branded as Island Line for the first time, as the name and logo was included on the "new" Class 483 trains' livery. However, this rebranding did not officially occur until 1994. The Class 483s had been introduced in 1989, and, like their predecessors, were former London Underground stock, dating from 1938.[21]

Island Line franchise (1996–2007)

Following the privatisation of British Rail, the rights to run services on the line were put out to tender as a franchise. Uniquely on the National Rail network, the franchise agreement also required the successful bidder to maintain the railway line in addition to the stations and trains.[22] Stagecoach Group were announced as the winner of the franchise and from October 1996 they operated passenger services under the name Island Line Trains.

In 2002, a form of Automatic Train Protection was installed on the line. This involved the refitting of tripcocks on trains and the associated train stop trackside equipment at signals. This system is almost identical to the one originally fitted to the trains when in service on the London Underground, although it is in use only at signals protecting single-track sections of the route.[23]

The Department for Transport designated the line as a community railway in March 2006, under reforms to help boost use of rural and branch lines in the UK rail network.[24]

South West Trains franchise (2007–2017)

From February 2007, the Island Line franchise was merged with the South West Trains franchise on the mainland. Stagecoach was announced as the winner of the expanded franchise and operated Island Line as a South West Trains subsidiary.[25] However, the Island Line name was retained, styled as Island Line Trains, and was promoted as a separate division on the South West Trains website.

Island Line Trains also repainted stations in a heritage scheme of cream and green, as part of a general station improvement package.[26]

South Western Railway franchise (since 2017)

In August 2017, the franchise was taken over by South Western Railway who have maintained the Island Line brand.[27]

2020–2021 upgrade work

British Rail Class 483 483007 Jess Harper at Shanklin on the final day of Class 483 operations, 3 January 2021. This unit was transferred to the adjacent Isle of Wight Steam Railway after being retired.[28]
A newer Class 484 next to an older 483, showing the difference in height between them.

On 16 September 2019, it was confirmed that £26 million would be invested in the Isle of Wight's railways. This included the introduction of five Class 484 units built by Vivarail using D78 Stock bodyshells to replace the ageing Class 483 fleet,[29] which had become unreliable to the point that services on the line had to be halved in frequency for around a month.[30][31] As the new Class 484 trains would sit higher above rail level than the Class 483 they would replace, the track through most stations was expected to be lowered in order to prevent a large vertical difference between the train floor height and the platform height. At stations where this was not possible, platform height was instead due to be raised.[32] The voltage on the third rail was to be raised to 750V DC.[2][33]

The reinstatement of a long-removed passing loop at Brading was also planned in order to allow trains to run at even half-hourly intervals, with island-based stakeholders including the Isle of Wight Council and Solent Local Enterprise Partnership contributing £1 million.[29][34] The plan as suggested in 2007-8 envisaged the passing loop at Brading replacing that at Sandown, which would have been abandoned along with the remaining double track within Ryde.[35] However, the Programme Manager from South Western Railway has publicly stated that the option of running a 20-minute service will remain after the upgrade[36] which implies that the existing passing points would remain operable. A total of 7,000 tonnes of spoil was expected to be removed during the work.[36]

The original plan as announced in September 2019 was that most of the work on the track would take place over the winter of 2020–2021, with a "shuttle" train service planned during this period.[37] Rail services were expected to be replaced by buses between Shanklin and Ryde St John's Road for 8 weeks in Autumn 2020 while the work was done, with a four-week suspension expected between St John's Road and Ryde Pier Head.[36] However, delivery of the upgrade was delayed due to the effect of the coronavirus pandemic. In August 2020, it was announced that instead of two different closure periods, the line would close completely from 4 January until 31 March 2021 for physical upgrades including platform work and the Brading loop.[38][39] Buses were to replace trains between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin during the work with a minibus shuttle service to connect Ryde Esplanade to Ryde Pier Head, although the latter was not operated while the catamaran ferry was suspended.[38][39][40] The rolling stock was also delayed due to delays at the manufacturer,[41] and the first of the Class 484 trains was delivered in November 2020.[42] In February 2021, it was announced that progress on the upgrade work and on the new trains had been further delayed due to the pandemic, requiring the line to close for six weeks longer than originally announced, meaning trains were not expected to run again until May.[43][44] Subsequently, problems with software on the new trains delayed their introduction until later in the year.[45] In August 2021, flooding caused damage at 16 sites on Island Line, with 200 tonnes of ballast from the mainland needed to carry out repairs. However good progress has been made with the testing of the trains and the infrastructure works are largely complete with only snagging items to deal with. The line reopened on 1 November 2021.[46]

2022–2023 upgrade work

Between October 2022 and June 2023, Ryde Pier Head was closed to facilitate a £17 million repair and upgrade to the pier, as it was coming towards the end of its operational life.[47][48]

Ryde Esplanade is due to be rebuilt, to include a café, a link to Ryde Pier Head, a new waiting hall, a ticket office, an operations room and better staff accommodation.[49] To begin works, the station was closed briefly in March 2023 and works are currently ongoing.[12][50]

Future

A number of suggestions have been made for the future of the railway, which faces long-standing issues such as the cost of maintaining Ryde Pier.[51] Proposals for the route have ranged from total closure – something also explored in the 1960s[52] – to major rebuilding as light rail.

Past proposals

In the mid-1990s it was proposed to reopen the line south of Shanklin, to the original terminus at Ventnor. Despite the high costs involved, the island's MP in 2018 called for feasibility studies on this project and on the prospect of trains running between Ryde and Newport using a mix of the existing heritage railway and a rebuilt section of line between Wooton and Newport.[53]

Other proposals put forward for the future of the railway line have included converting the line to a guided busway, something considered in 2005,[54] and the late 2010s as part of a consultation on the line's future.[55] The first plan for a Solent tunnel to connect the island's railways to the mainland network was authorised in the early 20th century[56] and although work to build a rail tunnel has never started, this proposal has resurfaced several times in more recent history.[57]

There have also been proposals to rebuild the line as a light rail route at several points, which would potentially allow for extension into Shanklin and other town centres,[58] the most recent being after a 2016 review of the route by transport expert Christopher Garnett commissioned by the Isle of Wight Council. It suggested converting the route with the third rail replaced with overhead lines and the remaining double-track singled with just passing loops provided. It was reported that ten T-69 trams which were built in 1999, and had previously operated on the Midland Metro, could be re-used for this scheme.[59] The Isle of Wight Council's Local Transport Plan previously mentioned that any improvements to the railway should ensure compatibility with the currently shelved South Hampshire Rapid Transit scheme. None of these light rail ideas have been progressed.

The Railway Magazine reported that a meeting took place on 11 February 2015 which covered a relaxation of public railway regulation and safety standards as well as transferring the line to a Social Enterprise Company. According to RM, people present at the meeting included Claire Perry (Rail Minister), Andrew Turner (MP for the Isle of Wight), Nick Finney (Turner's transport advisor) and local councillors. News of the meeting gave rise to local controversy.[60]

2020 Ideas Fund

On 23 May 2020, the Department for Transport announced that approval had been given to investigate the possible reinstatement of some or all of the tracks between Shanklin and Ventnor and Ryde and Newport.[61] It was one of ten schemes across UK approved for more study under an "Ideas Fund". The feasibility studies into reopening the two rail routes began in January 2021.[62][63]

In July 2021, an outline case was submitted by the Isle of Wight Council to the Department for Transport, seeking funding for a £67 million project to study the feasibility of restoring the link between the existing Ryde to Shanklin line and the island's main town, Newport, running via Blackwater. The trackbed of this line "remains very largely intact", making it the most viable line.[64] The line, closed in 1956, was once part of a 55-mile network stretching across the island. Newport station was demolished in 1971. If it is approved by the government through the Restoring Your Railway programme, the next stage would entail the authority preparing a more detailed business plan.[65] In June 2022, the Department for Transport posted a Programme Update of the Restore Your Railway (RYR). The Island Line branch line is listed under 'Schemes not progressing to delivery under RYR'. The Island Line proposal will be given detailed feedback including recommended next steps and alternative routes for consideration as appropriate.[66]

Rolling stock

The line between Ryde and Brading

Due to the isolated and rural nature of the Isle of Wight's railways, rolling stock has tended to be made up from displaced older vehicles, rebuilt or modified as required. Following the work undertaken during the line's closure during the winter of 1966–1967, the ceiling of Ryde Tunnel is 10 inches (250 mm) too low for standard National Rail vehicle types to clear.[17]

Since the reopening of the line in 1967, former London Underground Tube stock has been used. The initial trains were formed of so-called Standard Stock, made up into four- and three-coach sets (with one spare vehicle, normally kept at Ryde depot), designated "4-VEC" and "3-TIS" in the British Rail Southern Region electric multiple unit classification system. (The classification letters were a pun on the Roman name for the island, Vectis) Under the British Railways TOPS rolling stock classification system, these units eventually became Class 485 and Class 486. The cars transferred to the island were built at various dates between 1923 and 1934, and thus maintained a somewhat unwelcome tradition of providing the island's railways with among the oldest rolling stock running anywhere on the British railway system. By 1992,[67] these units had been replaced by newly refurbished London Underground 1938 Stock, designated Class 483 by British Rail. In September 2019, it was announced that the entire fleet would be replaced by Class 484 trains during 2020. The stock is maintained at Ryde St John's Road depot. The Class 484s entered service in November 2021 after the ten-month works closure of the line, the elderly Class 483s having been withdrawn that January.

Annual season tickets

Because the Isle of Wight is within the Network SouthEast area, annual season tickets issued to and from its stations are issued as Gold Cards. A ticket from Ryde Esplanade to Ryde St Johns Road was for many years the cheapest annual ticket in the area, and even though many holders of such tickets never use them for the intended journey, the discount obtained over the year (one-third off travel during off-peak hours in the Gold Card area) may amply repay the cost of the ticket.[68] When the Gold Card area was extended to include the West Midlands in January 2015,[69] the Ryde ticket was undercut by a similar short-distance ticket between Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley.[70]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Mileage on the line is measured from this station, starting at 0 miles 0 chains (0 km).[3]
  2. ↑ Mileage: 0 miles 32 chains (0.64 km)[3]
  3. ↑ Mileage: 1 mile 19 chains (2.0 km)[3]
  4. ↑ Mileage: 2 miles 17 chains (3.6 km)[3]
  5. ↑ Mileage: 4 miles 55 chains (7.5 km)[3]
  6. ↑ Mileage: 6 miles 42 chains (10.5 km)[3]
  7. ↑ Mileage: 7 miles 24 chains (11.7 km)[3]
  8. ↑ Mileage: 8 miles 29 chains (13.5 km)[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Route Specifications 2016 Wessex" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 David Burroughs (16 September 2019). "Fleet and track upgrades in £26m Isle of Wight investment". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain (3rd ed.). Platform 5. 2017. p. 10. ISBN 978-1909431-26-3.
  4. 1 2 3 Estimates of station usage − ORR Data Portal
  5. ↑ Timetables & Maps − Southern Vectis
  6. ↑ "Foot Passenger Ferries to the Isle of Wight". Hovertravel. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  7. ↑ TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain (3rd ed.). Platform 5. 2017. p. 62. ISBN 978-1909431-26-3.
  8. ↑ TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain (3rd ed.). Platform 5. 2017. p. 92. ISBN 978-1909431-26-3.
  9. ↑ TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain (3rd ed.). Platform 5. 2017. p. 38. ISBN 978-1909431-26-3.
  10. ↑ Smallbrook Junction − South Western Railway
  11. ↑ Station facilities for Smallbrook Junction − National Rail Enquiries
  12. 1 2 Toogood, Darren (20 February 2023). "TWO TRAINS PER HOUR TO OPERATE ON ISLAND LINE FROM APRIL". Island Echo. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  13. ↑ Toogood, Darren (16 September 2019). "NEW TRAINS AND PASSING LOOP CONFIRMED AS FUTURE OF ISLAND LINE REVEALED". Island Echo. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Train Timetable | South Western Railway". southwesternrailway.com.
  15. ↑ "Federick Dale Banister". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  16. 1 2 3 Hardy 2003, p. 9.
  17. 1 2 "1938 tube stock on the Isle of Wight". squarewheels.org.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  18. ↑ "Southern Electric Fleet Review Summer 2004". Southern Electric Group. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013.
  19. ↑ "Southern Electric History and Infrastructure (Part 4)". Southern Electric Group. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  20. ↑ Hardy 2003, pp. 19–20, 23.
  21. ↑ Hardy 2003, p. 75.
  22. ↑ "Transport Infrastructure Task Force Report" (PDF). Isle of Wight Council. July 2017. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2020.
  23. ↑ Hardy 2003, p. 79.
  24. ↑ "Island's new community rail route". BBC News. 24 March 2006.
  25. ↑ "Stagecoach wins railway franchise". BBC News. 22 September 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  26. ↑ "Spruce up for Island Line stations". South West Trains. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
  27. ↑ First/MTR joint venture wins South Western franchise Railway Gazette International 27 March 2017
  28. ↑ "The Fleet in 2020". Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  29. 1 2 "UKs oldest train fleet updated with 26m investment into Isle of Wights railway". www.southwesternrailway.com. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  30. ↑ Sally Perry (13 September 2019). "Island Line halve number of trains until further notice". On The Wight. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  31. ↑ "National Rail Enquiries - Service Alteration Details". 17 September 2019. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  32. ↑ "Isle of Wight — Island Rail Upgrade". Bidstats. 24 September 2019. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  33. ↑ "Trains return to the Isle of Wight after £26m upgrade". International Rail Journal. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  34. ↑ "£26m announced for Island rail line". BBC News. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  35. ↑ "Steaming back to Ryde after 50 years? Rail.co.uk assesses the plan and gives its verdict". 18 January 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  36. 1 2 3 Stuart George (22 January 2020). "Hear latest on buses, trains and road travel from Isle of Wight Bus and Rail Users' Group meeting". On The Wight. Archived from the original on 22 January 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  37. ↑ Simon Perry (17 September 2019). "Rollout schedule for new Island Line trains, enhancements and what we can expect". On The Wight. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  38. 1 2 Perry, Sally (20 August 2020). "Dates announced for Island Line rail work in prep for new trains – Plus photos of new trains". On The Wight. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  39. 1 2 Marriot, Alan (20 August 2020). "Isle of Wight faces three months with no trains on Island Line". Isle of Wight County Press.
  40. ↑ "Island Line Engineering Works". South Western Railway. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  41. ↑ Sally, Perry (1 June 2020). "New Island Line trains will be delayed". On The Wight. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  42. ↑ "Isle of Wight receives first 'new' train for Island Line". BBC News. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  43. ↑ Lucy Morgan (12 February 2021). "Covid forces six week delay to Island Line work". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  44. ↑ "Delay to Island Line reopening announced – Covid cited". On The Wight. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  45. ↑ "Train issues delay Island Line reopening". SWR. 27 April 2021.
  46. ↑ "Isle of Wight rail line reopens 10 months after £26m overhaul". BBC News. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021. 
  47. ↑ "Ryde Pier". Southwestern Railway. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  48. ↑ Toogood, Darren (25 May 2022). "ISLAND LINE WON'T SERVE RYDE PIER HEAD FOR 3 MONTHS DURING £17MILLION REPAIR SCHEME". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  49. ↑ Toogood, Darren (19 July 2022). "FUTURE OF RYDE'S ESPLANADE STATION REVEALED AS PART OF SEAFRONT REDEVELOPMENT". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  50. ↑ Rann, James (18 March 2023). "TRAINS TO RUN BETWEEN ESPLANADE AND RYDE ST JOHNS FROM TOMORROW". Island Echo.
  51. ↑ "Good news for Island Line passengers — government pledges to maintain Ryde Pier railway line". Isle of Wight County Press. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  52. ↑ Hardy 2003, pp. 19–20
  53. ↑ "Isle of Wight MP appeals for feasibility cash to extend Island Line". On The Wight. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  54. ↑ "Buses on Rail Lines No Easy Answer". Isle of Wight County Press. 22 April 2005. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  55. ↑ "Isle of Wight Bus and Rail Users' Group - Response to Island Line Consultation". Isle of Wight Bus and Rail Users' Group. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  56. ↑ "The Isle of Wight Steam Railway". Isle of Wight Beacon. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  57. ↑ "Tram Link Idea Wins Poll Approval". Isle of Wight County Press. 11 April 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  58. ↑ Hardy 2003
  59. ↑ "Is the Future Trams and Steam Trains into Ryde?". islandecho.co.uk. Island Echo. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  60. ↑ Marsh, Phil (November 2015). "Controversy raging over proposals for Island Line". The Railway Magazine. 161 (1376): 8.
  61. ↑ "Restoring Your Railway Fund". GOV.UK. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  62. ↑ "Feasibility study into extending Island Line to Ventnor and Newport underway". On The Wight. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  63. ↑ Lori Little (21 January 2021). "Government money to look at extending Isle of Wight railways". Isle of Wight County Press.
  64. ↑ Clifton, Paul (7 July 2021). "Isle of Wight railway £67m extension plans submitted". BBC News. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  65. ↑ Clifton, Paul (28 July 2021). "£67 million Isle of Wight line extension submitted to DfT". RAIL. No. 936. Bauer Media Group. p. 21.
  66. ↑ "Restoring Your Railway Fund Programme Update June 2022" (PDF). Department for Transport. June 2022. p. 15. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  67. ↑ Hardy 2003, p. 46.
  68. ↑ "Any more routes to cheaper train travel?". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  69. ↑ "Gold Card Benefits extended". Modern Railways. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  70. ↑ "Cut the cost of rail travel". Rail Future. Retrieved 19 July 2018.

Sources

  • Hardy, Brian (2003). Tube Trains on the Isle of Wight. Harrow Weald, Middlesex: Capital Transport. ISBN 1-85414-276-3.
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