Further to the damage to the train line on the Isle of Wight following the flooding over the Christmas period, this update in from Stagecoach. Ed
Engineering works being carried out across the Isle of Wight network are ahead of schedule thanks to the dedication of South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance staff and their contractors.
Some 600 tonnes of ballast, the material designed to support railway tracks, was delivered by ferry to the Island at the weekend, allowing engineers to begin repair work on Monday.
Repairs to 20 locations
Engineers are working to replace ballast and sleepers at 20 locations across three miles of track following severe flooding at Ryde before Christmas.
Provided there is no further extreme weather, South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance staff and contractors from Keltbray and S&T Cover ltd. are confident that the repair work will be completed by 20 January allowing the network to reopen.
Additional strengthening
As well as repairing the damage caused in December, engineers are working to strengthen key parts of the track to offer them protection against future bad weather.
The two crews are working from either end of the three mile stretch of track. They have already repaired the signalling system by replacing 500 metres of cabling and point motors through Ryde tunnel. Repairs are also being carried out at the station platform at Smallbrook Junction.
In addition, repairs are almost complete at the flood damaged depot at Ryde St Johns.
Replacement bus and taxi services remain in place for around 17 hours a day and Southern Vectis buses on routes 2 & 3 are also accepting rail ticket holders between Ryde and Shanklin.
Replacement services
- A bus replacement service will run between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin and from Shanklin to Ryde Esplanade.
- A taxi replacement service will run between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde Pier . These will meet the bus replacement service on arrival
A spokesperson for the Island Line said:
“We are very pleased with how repairs are going. It’s not been easy for our staff or our contractors, they’ve had some difficult conditions to deal with, but repairs are going well. We’re hoping, weather permitting, that we’ll be on track to reopen the network on 20 January. Repairing the damage caused remains a huge task and we’re very grateful to our passengers for their continued patience. We’re doing everything we can to get the network back up and running again.”
