The
railway


on
the
Isle
of
Wight
will
be
closing
again
in
September,
so
that
engineers
can
carry
out
more
work
on
the
Victorian
Ryde
Pier,
which
has
been
closed
at
various
times
for
upgrades
and
maintenance
since
October
2022.

Although
trains
will
only
be
replaced
by
buses
between
Ryde
and
Shanklin
for
a
month
from
6
September,
Ryde
Pier
will
not
open
to
rail
traffic
again
until
May
next
year.

Network
Rail
said
engineers
would
be
completing
a
‘large
programme
of
vital
maintenance’,
which
will
include
track
and
bridge
renewals
between
Ryde
St
Johns
Road
and
Ryde
Pier
Head,
renovations
to
an
historic
footbridge
at
Brading,
signalling
works
at
Ryde
and
bridge
repairs
in
Sandown.

A
minibus
shuttle
service
will
operate
between
Ryde
Pier
Head
and
Ryde
Esplanade
throughout
the
winter
and
early
spring,
while
train
services
will
operate
every
30
minutes
between
Ryde
Esplanade
and
Shanklin.

Network
Rail
infrastructure
director
Tom
McNamee
said:
‘Part
of
the
track
and
infrastructure
on
the
Island
Line
has
become
life-expired
and
extreme
weather
is
contributing
to
the
acceleration
of
the
degradation
of
the
railway.

‘Our
planned
maintenance
will
ensure
we’re
able
to
keep
running
services
safely
and
reliably
while
our
ongoing
programme
of
upgrades
to
the
steel
structure
and
track
between
Ryde
Pier
Head
and
Ryde
Esplanade
stations
will
preserve
and
strengthen
the
track
and
infrastructure
for
future
generations.

‘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
and
we
would
like
to
thank
local
residents,
businesses
and
customers
in
advance
for
their
patience
and
understanding
while
we
complete
this
important
work.’