Island Line (brand) facts for kids
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An Island Line Class 484 at Shanklin
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| Franchise(s): | Island Line 13 October 1996 – 3 February 2007 Part of South Western franchise 4 February 2007 – present |
| Main area(s): | Isle of Wight |
| Fleet size: | 5 |
| Stations called at: | 8 |
| National Rail abbreviation: | IL |
| Parent company: | South Western Railway |
Island Line is a train service on the Isle of Wight. It runs along an 8.5-mile railway track. This service is part of South Western Railway. For many years, Island Line was its own separate company. Then, in 2007, it became part of a larger train network.
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History of Island Line Trains
How Island Line Started
Before Island Line, the train service on the Isle of Wight was called RydeRail. This was from 1985 to 1990. RydeRail was part of a bigger train system called Network SouthEast.
The name Island Line first appeared in 1989. This happened when new trains, called Class 483, started running. The new name and a logo were put on these trains. By 1994, all the old RydeRail signs were gone.
From 1989 to 1996, Island Line was a sub-brand of Network SouthEast. In 1996, the train services became private. This means a private company, Stagecoach, took over running them. The company kept the name Island Line for the passenger service.
Island Line's Special Role
Island Line was unique among train companies. It was the only one that also looked after the railway tracks. Other companies just ran the trains. Network Rail still owned the tracks. But Island Line was responsible for their daily care.
For a while, a special bus helped people get to Ventnor. This bus connected with the train at Shanklin. It started in 2004 but stopped in 2010. Now, regular bus services connect to the train.
Joining a Bigger Network
Until 2007, Island Line was the smallest train company in the UK. To make things simpler, it joined the South West Trains company. This created a new, larger train network. Even though it was part of a bigger company, the Island Line name stayed. The stations were even painted in a special cream and green colour.
Island Line Today
In 2017, a new company, South Western Railway, took over. They plan to run the Island Line until at least 2024. South Western Railway is working to make big improvements. They plan to get new trains and upgrade the railway tracks. They also want to add a new section of track. This will allow trains to run every 30 minutes. This will help people connect better with ferries to Portsmouth.
Island Line Trains: Rolling Stock
Special trains are needed for Island Line. This is because the Ryde Tunnel has a low ceiling. The track had to be raised because of flooding. So, regular UK trains cannot fit.
Island Line uses Class 484 trains. These trains were once London Underground tube trains. They were first built in 1978 and then updated. These new trains replaced the older Class 483 trains in 2021. The Class 483 trains had been running since 1989. Before that, the Class 485 trains were used. Those trains were very old, from 1923!
In 2007, South West Trains bought the Class 483 trains. This helped save money on leasing costs.
The trains used to have a special look. Some were painted blue with pictures of dinosaurs. This was to attract tourists in the summer. Now, the trains have yellow panels on the front. This is for safety, so track workers can see them easily. The stations also got a makeover. They received new platforms and green and cream seating.
In 2019, it was announced that the Class 483 trains would be replaced. Five new Class 484 trains would take their place. The first new train arrived in November 2020. The last one arrived in February 2022.
Current Trains
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Routes operated | Built | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | |||||||
| Class 484 |  |
Electric multiple unit | 45 | 72.5 |
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Island Line |
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Started service on 1 November 2021 |
Past Trains
| Class | Image | Top Speed | Time in service | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classes 485 and 486 |  |
45 mph | 1966–1992 | 12 |
| Class 483 |  |
45 mph | 1989–2021 | 10 |
The Island Line Route
The railway has eight stations:
- Ryde Pier Head
- Ryde Esplanade
- Ryde St John's Road
- Smallbrook Junction
- Brading
- Sandown
- Lake
- Shanklin
