Winterclosurefor IslandLineasSouth WesternpreviewsnewClass484 trains
SOUTHWestern Railway( SW R) hasannouncedthe 8½-mile Island Line network will close for upgradingfrom January4 to March31,2021.
Theclosureisin preparation for the introductionof a fleet of Class484 trains.
SWRis havingfive two-car setsbuilt byVivarailto useon the Isleof Wight. Eachvehicle started life as a District Line train on London Underground, but has been stripped out and fully refurbished.
It will bethe third time former Underground trains have been repurposedfor useon the island -the first sets, Class485s built in 1923,were introduced under BR in 1967to replacethe'O2'0-4-4T steamfleet.
Wornout
The current Class483 sets were originally built in 1938 and were SO years old when modified at Eastleighbetween 1989and 1992.After 80 years of railway service, they are totally worn out, and somesets arenow usedasa sourceof sparepartsto keepjust three operational sets working.
Together,the trains and the infrastructure upgrade represent a £26million investment.
Underthe projecttherewill be a new passingloop at Brading.
Thiswill permit a balanced 30- minute frequency service, in contrastto the currentone which runsat a 20 or 40-minutefrequency.
Therewill also be track improvements, platform upgradesfor easieraccessto the new trains and new ticket vending machinesat Shanklin, Sandownand RydeStJohn's Road.
Whilethe upgradeistaking place,buseswill run between Shanklinand RydeEsplanade, with a mini bus operating along
RydePierto connectwith Wightlink ferries.
'Criticalwork'
Alan Pen ling ton, customer experience director at SWRs, aid: "This is a very exciting project for Island Line and will transform travelon the Isleof Wight. "Uponcompletionof this criticalwork,we will introduce the Class 484 trains into service, with their modernspacious interiors,free on-boardwi-fi, at-seat charging points, and dedicated wheelchair spaces :'