Island Line will fully reopen between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin on Friday, 2 May, in time for the Early May Bank Holiday weekend, following extensive refurbishment works on Ryde Pier.
The section between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde Pier Head has been closed since September 2024 to enable critical repair work by Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) engineers, strengthening the historic pier against extreme weather conditions.
Prior to reopening, the entire Island Line will close from Saturday, 26 April to Thursday, 1 May, to allow engineers to finalise essential preparations, including building a new under-track crossing at Brading, removing temporary equipment, signalling tests, and driver refresher training. Replacement bus services will operate during this closure.
The first train on 2 May will depart Ryde St Johns at 05:23, arriving at Ryde Pier Head at 05:29. The first service from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin will depart at 06:03.
Further upgrades, including rail replacements between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde St Johns Road and a new footbridge at Ryde St Johns Road, will occur later in the year.
George Murrell, Network Rail Wessex Route Renewals Director, expressed gratitude to the community for their patience, highlighting the early reopening as a positive development for local tourism.
Mark Dunn, Island Line General Manager, praised the efforts of teams involved, noting the repairs secure the line’s reliability for the future and expressed excitement about welcoming passengers back to full service ahead of the holiday weekend.
