Island Line Improvements
From Saturday 31 October to Sunday 29 November 2026, we’ll be carrying out essential renewal work on the railway on the Isle of Wight.
What are we doing?
During the closures, engineers will be:
- Carrying out a full renewal of the track on the line towards Shanklin between Ryde Tunnel and Ryde St Johns Road, around 700m of track
- Carrying out works to the footbridge to Hover Travel at Ryde Esplanade
- Completing works to Ryde St Johns Road footbridge
- Refurbishing the interlocking (the parts of the signalling that sets routes for trains) at Ryde St Johns Road Signal Box
- Tamping (lifting the track and consolidating and aligning the ballast beneath) along the whole line to ensure a smoother ride for customers
- Conducting vegetation management to reduce the risk of trees falling onto the line and of leaf fall impacting services
- Carrying out a detailed track inspection using a FRoOG lorry to check for areas that need repairs and improvement – and then making those repairs
- Continuing work underneath Ryde Pier, strengthening the metallic structure to prolong its life
How will this work affect me?
Buses will replace trains whilst we complete these works on the Island Line.
- Saturday 31 October to Sunday 15 November – Buses will replace trains between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin
- Monday 16 November to Sunday 29 November – Buses will replace trains between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde St Johns Road
Why is this work needed?
We need to carry out this work to ensure that the Island continues to be a safe, functioning railway, serving passengers from the ferry port to the South East of the island, and keeping islanders well connected to the mainline.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, please call our dedicated 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or visit our contact us page.