The Island Line rail service resumed today (Monday 1st November 2021).
However, those looking forward to the 30-minute train interval service promised by South Western Railway (SWR) in their announcement in January 2020 will have to wait a bit longer.
The passing loop
One of the big changes to the actual Island Line railway tracks was a ‘passing loop’ in Brading to enable the service to run a 30-minute train interval service, which had previously not been possible.
The new service has launched with only an hourly service (see timetable below), with the promised half hour service won’t be arriving for a long time.
Official word
Officials on board this morning were telling passengers the hourly service would last for six weeks before the 30-minute service resumed.
However, when News OnTheWight asked South Western Railway the reason for the hourly service, their spokesperson replied that they were “progressing plans to increase frequency as demand comes back in the spring”.
They said,
“With the railway re-opening in the winter months when customer numbers are traditionally low and the ferry service only operating an hourly timetable, we have taken the decision to launch the service with one train per hour.
“This will also allow us to provide certainty of service to our customers in the first weeks of operation, following the challenges we have faced with getting the trains into service.
“A key benefit of upgrade programme has been the installation of a new passing loop at Brading, which will enable us to offer our customers the choice of two trains per hour and we are progressing plans to increase frequency as demand comes back in the spring.”
