Class 483

[387star]

A trip to the island today for the first time in three years revealed vastly improved stations with new passenger information screens and waiting rooms and cafés reopened

However the trains I am less impressed about. Doors kept half opening so I had to kick them open to let pushchairs out... The train was so bumpy I felt quite unsafe... And the interior felt down at heel

I realise this is supposedly a heritage line but as the islands only normal railway it deserves much better!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
As an aside does south west trains recruit internally for guards and drivers on the island?

 

[Monty]

In the past SWT has asked guards and drivers if they would like to transfer to the island line, however one stipulation was that you either already lived there or was willing to relocate. I'm not sure if they recruit exclusively internally for train crew jobs.

Personally I think the stations need quite a bit of investment spent I on them, Sandown and Esplanade especially need a thorough deep clean and repaint.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Out of interest are the traincrew on the Island line on the same money as crew on the mainland?

 

[455driver]

In the past SWT has asked guards and drivers if they would like to transfer to the island line, however one stipulation was that you either already loved there or was willing to relocate. I'm not sure if they recruit exclusively internally for train crew jobs.

Personally I think the stations need quite a bit of investment spent I on them, Sandown and Esplanade especially need a thorough deep clean and repaint.

I like the Island but not that much!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Out of interest are the traincrew on the Island line on the same money as crew on the mainland?

No, not even close.

 

[Lrd]

I'm not sure if they recruit exclusively internally for train crew jobs.

I've seen positions on the external recruitment site for guards and as you said, one of the requirements was to live on the Island.

 

[Monty]

I like the Island but not that much! :lol

thanks for highlighting that.

 

[455driver]

thanks for highlighting that.

Pleasure, you know you can always rely on me!

I did post something with the word 'list' in it but hit the button to the left of the 'i' by mistake, luckily I noticed it within a few seconds, it changed the whole context of the post!

 

[Juniper Driver]

I like the Island but not that much!

No 455's/456's or 458's on it.

 

[47802]

A trip to the island today for the first time in three years revealed vastly improved stations with new passenger information screens and waiting rooms and cafés reopened

However the trains I am less impressed about. Doors kept half opening so I had to kick them open to let pushchairs out... The train was so bumpy I felt quite unsafe... And the interior felt down at heel

I realise this is supposedly a heritage line but as the islands only normal railway it deserves much better!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
As an aside does south west trains recruit internally for guards and drivers on the island?

Oh I wouldn't say that about the Island Line train's according to some people on here's its reason why old trains can go on for ever, and why we should have PEP's on the Welsh valley lines. Still never mind all it needs is a lick of paint and a retrim of the seats and it will be like a new train apparently!

Also doesn't the term Heritage used in the context of a non preserved railway, really mean we can not or do not want to spend any money on it, a bit like the Blackpool Tramway until somebody saw the light and turned it into a modern system with a future.

 

[cav1975]

... The train was so bumpy I felt quite unsafe...

The trains would probably be OK if the track was better.

 

[NSEFAN]

... according to some people on here's its reason why old trains can go on for ever ...

... if maintained. A lack of maintenance will cause problems like the OP has experienced. The only reason that 483s continue to run is they are cheaper than buying new trains, which is the same reason PEP stock is being proposed for use on the valleys.

 

[47802]

... if maintained. A lack of maintenance will cause problems like the OP has experienced. The only reason that 483s continue to run is they are cheaper than buying new trains, which is the same reason PEP stock is being proposed for use on the valleys.

Well yes obviously, but sometimes you need to bite the bullet and make the investment, if you want a modern efficient transport system

 

[455driver]

Well yes obviously, but sometimes you need to bite the bullet and make the investment, if you want a modern efficient transport system

How much would the ticket prices have to go up to pay for your new trains compared to using half life stock?

 

[ainsworth74]

There are other threads to discuss whether new stock should be used straight away on newly electrified routes in Wales and the North. I would ask that this thread is used to discuss the Class 483s and the Island Line only.

 

[455driver]

The 483s were designed and built as an underground train, because of this they have very limited lateral movement (they dont want to hit the tunnels) this then translates into a very lively ride when on poor track. It isnt dangerous and there is no chance of a derailment.

 

[GatwickDepress]

I suppose what could help is if there were a community "Friends of the Island Line" type group with volunteers assisting in the upkeep of and presentation at stations, especially during the summer season.

The success of the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership's Station Adoption scheme, for example, shows it can be done!

 

[Chris125]

I suppose what could help is if there were a community "Friends of the Island Line" type group with volunteers assisting in the upkeep of and presentation at stations, especially during the summer season.

The success of the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership's Station Adoption scheme, for example, shows it can be done!

Isle of Wight CRP

Ultimately a line requiring so much subsidy will always struggle to justify investment; for all that the doors may sometimes need help this has no real impact on services which remain exceptionally reliable while the ride quality will always suffer from the use of tube stock on what is predominantly jointed track on shingle ballast. On the plus side, it's a truly unique operation and gives the line real character which would be a shame to lose.

Chris

 

[NSEFAN]

What's happening with the "plan" to replace the 1938 stock with 1972 stock from the Bakerloo line?

 

[Chris125]

What's happening with the "plan" to replace the 1938 stock with 1972 stock from the Bakerloo line?

I believe SWT have confirmed that there are no plans at present to replace the existing stock, though they had previously mentioned the ex-Piccadilly 73TS as as a possibility before the Deep Tube upgrades were pushed back.

Chris

 

[Lockwood]

I've seen positions on the external recruitment site for guards and as you said, one of the requirements was to live on the Island.

Makes sense, don't you have to live within 45 minutes of work?
With the risk of bad weather cancelling the ferries/hovercraft, you'd not be able to get to work.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Isle of Wight CRP

Not anything about a station adoption scheme or ongoing voluntary upkeep group sadly. I'm not having a go at them, from reading the site they do some exceptional work, but nothing a passenger or tourist would really notice.

Thanks for the link though, if it's still going when I retire in 80 odd years I'll give them a bell.

 

[westcoaster]

Although I love the heritage side to the line and like the bouncing and clickerty clack, I've noticed this year the line seems to be kept shall we say, compaired to the year before.

I've always wondered if there could be a dual order say for island line and clockwork orange, may bring the cost down abit.

And in a day dream I had once keep a couple on the island and 2 on the main line network doing tours and days out around the third rail network.

 

[Chris125]

I've always wondered if there could be a dual order say for island line and clockwork orange, may bring the cost down abit.

The Glasgow Subway uses vehicles of an even smaller size on a narrower track gauge so there'd be no obvious savings even if the money was available.

Chris

 

[455driver]

The Glasgow Subway uses vehicles of an even smaller size on a narrower track gauge so there'd be no obvious savings even if the money was available.

Chris

Is it 3ft 6 or something like that?

 

[Chris125]

I believe it's 4ft.

 

[455driver]

I believe it's 4ft.

Thanks, I knew it was an odd size.

 

[al.currie93]

Isle of Wight CRP

Ultimately a line requiring so much subsidy will always struggle to justify investment; for all that the doors may sometimes need help this has no real impact on services which remain exceptionally reliable while the ride quality will always suffer from the use of tube stock on what is predominantly jointed track on shingle ballast. On the plus side, it's a truly unique operation and gives the line real character which would be a shame to lose.

Chris

I agree, it's unique and great the way it is 76 year old trains!

I personally feel that all it needs is some money spent on station/train maintenance and to be polished up a bit, and possibly redoubling Brading and the mothballed parts at Ryde, and it will probably attract more use if not, then we have a really nice little gem to be proud of :P

 

[Monty]

I agree, it's unique and great the way it is 76 year old trains!

I personally feel that all it needs is some money spent on station/train maintenance and to be polished up a bit, and possibly redoubling Brading and the mothballed parts at Ryde, and it will probably attract more use if not, then we have a really nice little gem to be proud of :P

Spot on, if they reinstated the loop at Brading it would really help with timetaing and make using the line a more attractive option over the Bus. Other than that all is needed is a few ££ spent tarting up the stations a bit.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

If it wasn't for the tunnel and a couple of low bridges then the line would probably be a good candidate for conversion to a tram route

 

[Peter Mugridge]

As trams can run on the streets, why not just bypass the tricky bits with on-street sections?