South Western Railway has announced a service increase for trains on the Island Line.
The additional SWR services are set to operate during peak times and will commence from Monday the 20th of December 2021.
The new services will be a welcome addition and will support local schools in the January term and also commuters once current restrictions are lifted.
The additional services also represent South Western Railway's (SWR) commitment to returning to a full half-hourly service.
As well as the hourly service which is currently in operation, the following services will also be running:
- Ryde St Johns Road to Ryde Esplanade on weekdays: 06:05
- Ryde Esplanade to Shanklin on weekdays: 06:14, 07:14, 08:14, 16:14, 17:14, 18:14, 19:14 (just to Ryde St Johns Road)
- Shanklin to Ryde Esplanade on weekdays: 06:48, 07:48, 08:48, 15:48. 16:48, 17:48, 18:48
- Ryde St Johns Road to Shanklin on weekdays: 15:18
- Ryde St Johns Road to Ryde Esplanade on Saturdays: 10:06
- Ryde Esplanade to Shanklin on Saturdays: 10:14, 11:14, 12:14, 17:14, 18:14, 19:14 (just to Ryde St Johns Road)
- Shanklin to Ryde Esplanade on Saturdays: 10:48, 11:48, 12:48, 16:48. 17:48, 18:48
- Ryde St Johns Road to Shanklin on Saturdays: 16:18
Peak times will see one train each hour travelling both to and from Ryde Pierhead to connect with ferry services, other extra services will terminate at Ryde Esplanade and will improve connections with Hovertravel.
Following the Island Line's reopening on the 1st of November 2021, the rail operator reduced the services to equal low customer demand and also to match the scaled-back ferry timetable which in turn made returning to service as efficient as possible.
Alex Foulds, SWR's Commercial Projects Director, said: “We are delighted to introduce additional Island Line services from Monday, which are set to make a big difference to our customers. Double the number of peak-time trains will help people get to where they need to be more quickly, be they commuters, school children or leisure travellers.
“As well as ensuring that we match capacity and demand, these changes will give a boost to the Island's transport network, offering enhanced connectivity and better integrated public transport.
“Following the biggest upgrade to the Island Line in decades, today's announcement marks an important milestone on our journey towards implementing the full timetable”.
Mmm… Did SWR amend the timetable for altruistic reasons or was political pressure applied as the service currently on offer was linking with ferries but was not providing a service to rail users who wished to travel or commute within the Shanklin/Ryde corridor e.g. school students. As £26+millions were invested by HM Gov. one might expect a service of greater of one train per hour. If the proposed extension of the Island Line from Sandown to Newport and maybe one back to Ventnor is to be realised then SWR must be seen to be serving the IoW community if government are to
invest a further £65 million in infrastructure and rolling stock. Time to step up to the plate SWR.
Geoff. Bentham (former IoW resident)