Residents of the Isle of Wight (or those of you planning a visit) — we've got a travel update for you. The Island Line, which runs along the gorgeous east coast from Ryde Pier head to Shanklin, is due to close for a whole month later this year for ‘vital maintenance’.
The 8.5 mile line will shut in its entirety from Friday, September 6 to Sunday, October 6. There will be a rail replacement bus service available during that time. Once it reopens, travellers have been promised a full service of two trains an hour.
According to Network Rail, the maintenance work will include track and bridge renewals between Ryde St Johns Road and Ryde Pier Head, renovations to a historic footbridge at Brading, signalling works at Ryde and bridge repairs in Sandown.
Tom McNamee, infrastructure director for Network Rail’s Wessex region, said: ‘Part of the track and infrastructure has become life-expired and extreme weather is contributing to the acceleration of the degradation of the railway.
‘We recognise there is never a convenient time to close the line, but we have waited to do so until after the important summer period.’
Ryde Pier itself (which is the second-longest seaside pier in the UK) will close from September 6 until May 2025, so that it can undergo some much-needed repair and preservation work.
Did you see that this swanky zero-emission ferry is coming to the Isle of Wight?
Plus: This historic tower near Bath has reopened to the public after a £4 million makeover.
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