The
only


National
Rail
line
on
the
Isle
of
Wight
will
close
again
tomorrow,
for
a
new
engineers’
possession.

The
latest
closure
will
mean
no
trains
until
6
October,
when
the
line
will
reopen
between
Ryde
Esplanade
and
Shanklin,
but
the
pier
section
will
remain
closed
until
4
May.

These
latest
closures
are
being
described
as
essential
in
‘futureproofing
the
service’.

While
the
whole
line
is
closed
a
footbridge
at
Brading
willl
be
refurbished,
signalling
will
be
upgraded
at
Ryde
and
a
bridge
repaired
at
Sandown.
There
will
also
be
work
to
renew
the
pier
and
the
track
which
runs
along
it
which
will
continue
throughout
the
winter.

Network
Rail
Wessex
route
infrastructure
director
Tom
McNamee
said:
‘Part
of
the
track
and
infrastructure
on
the
Island
Line
has
become
“life-expired”,
with
extreme
weather
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.’

The
line
has
been
closed
several
times
in
recent
years
for
upgrades
and
repairs,
including
making
changes
for
the
arrival
of
the
Vivarail
conversions
which
replaced
former
tube
rolling
stock.

Like
the
tube
stock,
the
Vivarail
trains
were
also
cascaded
from
the
London
Underground,
but
a
much
wider
programme
of
conversions
for
other
lines
was
cancelled
when
Vivarail
ceased
to
trade
in
late
2022.