{"id":209733,"date":"2025-05-02T18:59:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T08:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/railuk.com\/?p=177208"},"modified":"2025-05-02T18:59:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T08:59:10","slug":"island-line-services-resume-following-critical-repairs-to-historic-ryde-pier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=209733","title":{"rendered":"Island Line services resume following critical repairs to historic Ryde Pier"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Island Line services from Ryde Pier to Shanklin have resumed today (Friday 2 May)following a complex programme to repair and refurbish the historic structure.<\/p>\n

The first service departed Ryde St Johns station at 05:23 and arrived at Ryde Pier Head station at 05:29, while the first train from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin departed at 06:03.<\/p>\n

The line between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde Pier Head had been closed since September 2024 while teams of Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) engineers carried out vital repairs and maintenance to ensure the Pier can carry trains safely and reliably for generations to come.<\/p>\n

Over the past eight months, engineers have worked tirelessly and braved the elements to install 590 metres of new rail and replace 450 worn-out wooden sleepers with new composite sleepers which are more resilient to the extreme weather. The teams also installed 2,500 metres of new rail bearers \u2013 the steel girder that sits between the Pier sub structure and the sleepers and rails \u2013 and refurbished the underside of the Pier sub structure.<\/p>\n

Ahead of this morning\u2019s reopening, which has come four days earlier than planned, the entirety of the Island Line was closed for a week, while final preparations were completed, which included:<\/p>\n