Island Line Improvements
From Saturday 18 October until Monday 17 November 2025, we carried out essential renewal work on the railway on the Isle of Wight.
What did we do?
During the closures, engineers completed the following works:
- Replaced the switches and crossings at Ryde Esplanade, which allows the trains to change track
- Replaced rail through Ryde Tunnel between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde St Johns Road
- Refurbished Ryde St Johns Footbridge
- Improved the fencing on Rink Road, Ryde to make the railway safer
- Tamped (lifting the track and consolidating and aligning the ballast beneath) along the whole line to ensure a smoother ride for customers
- Conducted vegetation management to reduce the risk of trees falling onto the line and of leaf fall impacting services
- Carried out detailed track inspection to check for areas that need repairs and improvement
- Continued work underneath Ryde Pier, strengthening the metallic structure to prolong its life.
Why was this work needed?
We needed 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.