Island Line services, Isle of Wight. General discussion

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

Here's a bit about the likely future prospects for the outgoing Class 483 units.  I wonder how the battery conversion on the unit not staying in the IoW will be done?

https://onthewight.com/class-483-train-1938-tube-wight-retire-essex-london-transport-traction-group-lttg/?fbclid=IwAR0HcCZSXyBPYtWuFLGOxh_1heoXTlKykkZlatJUXQZI-hIj2l2zRx27Kqk

[grahame]

Here's a bit about the likely future prospects for the outgoing Class 483 units.  I wonder how the battery conversion on the unit not staying in the IoW will be done?

I believe the East Kent has some experience - including use of an old MLV or the Gatwick variant attached to the preserved unit to carry the batteries. Of course, these vehicles were designed along the same lines as the EPBs, CEPs, BEPs and HAPs and look good running with them.  Coupled to a tube they would look ... odd.

[grahame]

From the Island Echo

END OF THE LINE? ISLAND LINE TRAINS LIKELY TO BE SUSPENDED FOR ANOTHER WEEK

With just weeks left until they are pulled from service permanently, Island Line?s last 2 remaining trains have broken down and it may be over a week until the service resumes.

All trains between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin have been suspended since Friday morning when the last operational train ground to a halt.

As previously reported by Island Echo, maintenance works to the bridge at Ryde St John?s means that the service was always going to be suspended this weekend. However, the latest information available suggests that the trains will remain in the sidings until next Monday (14th December).

The 1930s former underground trains are due to continue running until 3rd January, when the line will then close for 3 months. New trains, which started to arrive on the Isle of Wight last month, will be fully up and running by May 2021. It begs the question as to whether the existing trains will come back into service at all?

[IndustryInsider]

It would be a great shame if they didn't appear in service again before it's too late.  I expect quite a few enthusiasts would have been hoping to ride and record them in action in the last couple of days.

[bobm]

I wonder if they will take advantage of the situation and do some daylight testing/training with the new unit?

[grahame]

I wonder if they will take advantage of the situation and do some daylight testing/training with the new unit?

Lots happening on the Isle of Wight at the moment - videos of 484001 running up and down the yard at St John's Road and a still or two of it in the platform.

Meanwhile, on Compton Beach (Southern Vectis route 12) from The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Isle of Wight monolith: 'Magical' structure appears on beach

A monolith has mysteriously appeared in Britain - just days after similar ones were spotted in the US and Romania.

The unusual mirrored structure was discovered on the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England.

Resident Alexia Fishwick said she "was dumbstruck" when she came across it during a beach walk on Sunday and described it as "really quite magical".

A monolith found in Utah last month created wild speculation on social media and apparent copycats.

I'm so glad they told us what the "Isle of Wight" is.   Seem less sure of the monolith. From the Utah one

Most observers reflecting on their trip to the mysterious monolith suspected it was left by an artist rather than an alien species.

And from the island

DJ Rob da Bank, another island resident, was also among those who took a stroll to see the sight for themselves.
He mused: "I'm not sure if it's aliens, a Coldplay PR^▸ (Public Relations) stunt or a local mirror dealer drumming up trade, but it got us all down the beach anyway."

[grahame]

It would be a great shame if they didn't appear in service again before it's too late.  I expect quite a few enthusiasts would have been hoping to ride and record them in action in the last couple of days.

It's been just 006 and 008 for a while, but it seems James Bond is riding to the rescue ...

No fanfare, but 007 appeared from the workshop at Ryde working under her own power for the first time in three years.

[bobm]

It is a bit ironic that after days of struggling to run any service, there is now an early finish to the day to allow testing of the new stock.

What's going on
Due to testing of our new Class 484 Units on the Isle of Wight, the train service will be closing earlier than normal on Friday 11, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December. Late afternoon and evening train services running between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of Sunday 13 December.

What We're Doing About It
Due to testing of our new Class 484 Units on the Isle of Wight, the train service will be closing earlier than normal on Friday 11, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December.

The last train services to run will be:
- 17:49 Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin
- 18:18 Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head
- 18:49 Ryde Pier Head to Ryde St. Johns Road

Following this, buses will replace trains until the end of service. Please use online journey planners to plan your journey.

We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause.

[grahame]

From Island Echo

Island Line won’t re-open until mid-May due to a 6-week delay in the delivery of a major £26million upgrade of the network, it has been announced.

It was originally hoped that the Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin route would re-open at the start of April following significant improvements to the track, infrastructure and stations. However, South Western Railway (SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)) has today (Friday) announced that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unforeseen challenges, leaving the project team no choice but to push back the line’s reopening by around 6 weeks.

When the line does re-open services will resume with the brand new Class 484 trains, although to date just 2 of 10 carriages have been delivered.

[RichardB]

A great story from the Isle of Wight County Press - another of the units seen on the motorway on its way to the Island

https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/19112722.isle-wight-resident-spots-island-line-trains-mainland-motorway/?fbclid=IwAR0BxMY39BSE3uhhsLbCsfL-xLJUvYjBbzN-rv6B3krxYPAvE8tX7AWPPpg

[paul7575]

There was a 484 unit (002) delivered by road to Eastleigh yesterday, apparently some (or all) of them are going to be doing mileage accumulation on the Fareham - Eastleigh line. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/linesidephotosuk/50974136356/

Route training took place a couple of weeks ago using class 20s.

Paul

[RichardB]

There was a 484 unit (002) delivered by road to Eastleigh yesterday, apparently some (or all) of them are going to be doing mileage accumulation on the Fareham - Eastleigh line. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/linesidephotosuk/50974136356/

Route training took place a couple of weeks ago using class 20s.

Paul

Thanks for this info and the pic.  Look forward to photos of the trains on the Fareham - Eastleigh line. 

[paul7575]

There was a 484 unit (002) delivered by road to Eastleigh yesterday, apparently some (or all) of them are going to be doing mileage accumulation on the Fareham - Eastleigh line. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/linesidephotosuk/50974136356/

Route training took place a couple of weeks ago using class 20s.

Paul

Thanks for this info and the pic.  Look forward to photos of the trains on the Fareham - Eastleigh line. 

It’s not far from me at all, I might have to go for a walk near Botley or Hedge End if they show up on Realtimetrains at a suitable daylight hour...

[Fourbee]

There was a 484 unit (002) delivered by road to Eastleigh yesterday, apparently some (or all) of them are going to be doing mileage accumulation on the Fareham - Eastleigh line. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/linesidephotosuk/50974136356/

Route training took place a couple of weeks ago using class 20s.

Paul

I knew about the class 20s, but your quote I've bolded now makes the whole thing clearer!

[RichT54]

SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) have issued a press release stating that the reopening of the Island Line will be delayed.

https://www.southwesternrailway.com/other/news-and-media/news/2021/april/train-issues-delay-island-line-reopening

Tuesday 27th April 2021

South Western Railway is disappointed to announce that, due to challenges with the delivery of the new fleet of class 484 trains, the reopening of the Island Line will be delayed.

Rolling stock manufacturer Vivarail had been set to deliver all the trains to the Island well before Easter, but complex software issues mean the fully refurbished trains are yet to be delivered. As soon as the trains can be delivered to the Island, SWR can begin the extensive process of operational testing, safety assurance and training required to bring them into service.

As a result, it is with regret that we will have to push back the reopening of the Island Line to later this summer. Given the complexity of the challenges we face, primarily with the software on the trains, it is too early to provide a firm date.

SWR and Vivarail are now conducting a full review to build a strong programme in which all parties can have confidence and will provide further updates on that programme in due course.

In the meantime, SWR is committed to keeping customers on the Island moving and has today pledged to double the capacity of the rail replacement bus service from 17 May, to match the capacity of the previously expected rail timetable.