Network Rail engineers are making significant progress on a vital upgrade project to the Island Line between Ryde Pierhead and Ryde Esplanade. The nine-month programme, which began earlier this year, is now approximately halfway complete.
The work involves repairing and preserving the historic Ryde Pier structure, with a focus on replacing worn-out components and improving resilience to extreme weather conditions. Key milestones achieved so far include:
- Installation of 295 meters of new rail.
- Replacement of 450 wooden sleepers with more durable composite sleepers.
- Installation of 1,250 meters of new rail bearers.
- Refurbishment of sections of the Ryde Pier substructure.
Additionally, a recent month-long maintenance effort by Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) delivered several improvements, such as:
- Laying new track with resilient composite sleepers at Ryde Esplanade station.
- Installing new rail bearers and modifying signaling systems.
- Realigning the track at Ryde Esplanade station.
- Replacing bridge decks at Park and Rink Road bridges and repairing bridges in Sandown.
- Renovating the historic footbridge at Brading.
While train services between Ryde Pierhead and Ryde Esplanade are currently suspended, services continue to operate between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin every 30 minutes. A minibus shuttle service is also available between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade to maintain ferry connections.
George Murrell, Network Rail Wessex Route Renewals Director, said: “We’re now roughly at the mid-way point of our critical life extension work and I’m really pleased to say the work is progressing well and we are currently on course to complete this work and reopen the railway in early May 2025 as planned, in time for the summer holiday season.
“This has been and remains a really challenging and complex working environment for our engineers and I’m proud of the progress our teams are making in what, at times, has been very tricky and extremely wet and windy conditions.
“This is really critical work and we’re committed to ensuring future generations of passengers can continue to benefit from this important railway but I recognise this work is disruptive so I’d like to sincerely thank passengers, locals residents and business for their ongoing patience while we complete these works.”
Neil Drury, Engineering and Infrastructure Director said: “We know just how important Ryde Pier and the Island Line is to the local communities of the Isle of Wight, so we’re very pleased to see the programme progressing well, despite the difficult conditions that engineers are working in.
“We’re looking forward to restoring services along the full length of the Island Line, from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin, in the new year. We’re very grateful for our customers’ patience as we work with Network Rail to complete this very important work.”
