Class 484 replacing class 483 on the island line: progress updates

[pompeyfan]

https://twitter.com/wightlinkferry/status/1296495028659982340?s=21

Some people might find this interesting.... a video of a tamper being loaded onto Wightlinks St Claire at Portsmouth Gunwharf.

Look what we shipped across today!

This huge rail tamper is heading to the Island to help with improvements to the service between Shanklin and Ryde. The machine travels along the tracks, lifts the rails and levels the ballast underneath ️

 

[swt_passenger]

i was wondering if they where going to stop using the old trains after theyve done the track/signal work thats all as would like to pay a final visit

It's been suggested (in one of the earlier discussions about the overall IOW project) that the '38 stock won't be able to run (in service) once the various platform height changes for the 484s have been made. I don't know for a fact, but a few posters concurred with that. They wouldn't have the "grandfather rights" that allow the compromise heights seen on various LU lines...

https://twitter.com/wightlinkferry/status/1296495028659982340?s=21

Some people might find this interesting.... a video of a tamper being loaded onto Wightlinks St Claire at Portsmouth Gunwharf.

Hopefully all the people scratching their heads a few weeks back about getting the 484s over there can now rest easy...

 

[aleggatta]

https://twitter.com/wightlinkferry/status/1296495028659982340?s=21

Some people might find this interesting.... a video of a tamper being loaded onto Wightlinks St Claire at Portsmouth Gunwharf.

Any idea where it was loaded on to the wagon? Eastleigh maybe? (Curious as to if 484s will be dragged down by rail to the nearest location or if it will be road from factory)

 

[Dstock7080]

just heard a piece on the new trains on south today, any idea when the old ones are going or the last day/celebration might be or might that not happen at all considering the recent goings on with the virus ect as heard the line will be closed from december for a couple of months for track/signal work to start

South Today link on iPlayer:
South Today, Evening News: 20/08/2020: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000ly1l via @bbciplayer

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

Interesting that it is a Trackwork machine. I was under the impression that none of their kit is Network Rail registered. Is the Island Line going to be under 'High Street' operation while the upgrade proceeds?
Pat

 

[cav1975]

Interesting that it is a Trackwork machine. I was under the impression that none of their kit is Network Rail registered. Is the Island Line going to be under 'High Street' operation while the upgrade proceeds?
Pat

Island Line has some exemptions in the same way as London Underground and other "Non Main Line" operations.

 

[lttgroup]

The trackwork is also not owned by NR, so I'm imagining the kit doesn't need to be NR registered.

 

[Rick1984]

Island Echo article, same stuff as other articles

NO ISLAND LINE TRAINS FOR 3 MONTHS IN EARLY 2021 CONFIRMS SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

Island Line trains will not operate between 4th January and 31st March 2021 to allow for engineering works ahead of the introduction of new trains on the network, it has been announced. South Western Railway has confirmed that for almost 3 months no trains will operate between Ryde Pier Head...

www.islandecho.co.uk

 

[MotCO]

https://twitter.com/wightlinkferry/status/1296495028659982340?s=21

Some people might find this interesting.... a video of a tamper being loaded onto Wightlinks St Claire at Portsmouth Gunwharf.

I hope it fits through the various tunnels!

 

[Chris125]

The trackwork is also not owned by NR, so I'm imagining the kit doesn't need to be NR registered.

Network Rail own all the infrastructure, track included, but it's leased to the franchisee.

The tamper will only be used during a possession of the line, perhaps this weekend and/or overnight, so it's just 'plant' like tthe IWSR vehicles borrowed some years back for the track relay near Lake.

 

[Rick1984]

Will it be off loaded at Sandown?

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

Network Rail own all the infrastructure, track included, but it's leased to the franchisee.

The tamper will only be used during a possession of the line, perhaps this weekend and/or overnight, so it's just 'plant' like the IWSR vehicles borrowed some years back for the track relay near Lake.

I see. On the North Island it would still have to registered, I think.
Pat

 

[Rick1984]

One thing I've just thought, they aren't getting the snazzy front end of the TfW class 230. Are they keeping original fronts or will they have the reinforced cabs?

See difference in Wikipedia:

TFW CLASS 230

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/TfW_230_on_test_July_2020.jpg

IL CLASS 484

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/Class_484_Island_Line_artist%27s_impression.png

 

[swt_passenger]

One thing I've just thought, they aren't getting the snazzy front end of the TfW class 230. Are they keeping original fronts or will they have the reinforced cabs?

See difference in Wikipedia:

TFW CLASS 230

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/TfW_230_on_test_July_2020.jpg

IL CLASS 484

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/Class_484_Island_Line_artist%27s_impression.png

I doubt the TfW front end is part of cab strengthening, it will all be internal surely? But there are far more recent images and videos than that wiki “artists impression”.

 

[DavidGrain]

Also too many doors on the artist's impression. The basic front end on all the pics I have seen and the Marston Vale units which I have ridden on, the cab front is the basic D-Stock with the connecting door sealed up.

 

[Domh245]

I doubt the TfW front end is part of cab strengthening, it will all be internal surely? But there are far more recent images and videos than that wiki “artists impression”.

They are still strengthened, but they lack the different design of fascia that the TfW units have. The recent pictures in this thread from twitter show what the front of the unit looks like

Also too many doors on the artist's impression. The basic front end on all the pics I have seen and the Marston Vale units which I have ridden on, the cab front is the basic D-Stock with the connecting door sealed up.

Too many doors? The artist impression (and recent pictures) shows the blanked up front connecting door

 

[DavidGrain]

Too many doors? The artist impression (and recent pictures) shows the blanked up front connecting door

I was referring to the passenger doors but looking closely I see that it is a 2 car unit. On such a small picture my first impression was that it was a single car unit.

 

[Chris125]

I see. On the North Island it would still have to registered, I think.
Pat

Even if it only operates within a possession, and is moved to and from by road?

Will it be off loaded at Sandown?

Correct, it's something they do on a semi-regular basis. With a 20mph restriction almost 1.5 miles long south of St Johns it's about time...

 

[DavidGrain]

Any idea where it was loaded on to the wagon? Eastleigh maybe? (Curious as to if 484s will be dragged down by rail to the nearest location or if it will be road from factory)

How the new trains will be moved will depend on if the build is completed at Long Marston as Vivarail are planing a factory move. If the build is completed at Long Marston my expectation would be that the trains would be dragged to Eastleigh for testing as they cannot be tested in Worcestershire as the TfW trains are being tested because the Old Worse and Worse does not have third rail. On completion of the testing I would expect them to be taken by road to wherever they can be offloaded onto the track.

I am surprised that the Tamper has been moved to the Island so soon as I presume it will remain on the Island until the work is completed next year.

 

[A60stock]

Will this be a phased introduction, or will the 38 stock simply disappear in one go i.e. a closure of the entire line like how was done with the Waterloo and city line when the 92 stock came in

 

[DavidGrain]

I don't think the new stock will run on the line before the work on the track is completed next year. So I think the old stock will run till the end of the year if it can be kept going.

 

[swt_passenger]

Will this be a phased introduction, or will the 38 stock simply disappear in one go i.e. a closure of the entire line like how was done with the Waterloo and city line when the 92 stock came in

Personally I dont believe there can be any mixed running, because platforms are being raised to match the 484s. They would be too high for the 483s.

 

[cav1975]

Personally I dont believe there can be any mixed running, because platforms are being raised to match the 484s. They would be too high for the 483s.

That is my understanding too though the work last weekend and this weekend may provide enough clearance for testing/training runs with the 484s before then.

 

[swt_passenger]

That is my understanding too though the work last weekend and this weekend may provide enough clearance for testing/training runs with the 484s before then.

Suppose so, I was concentrating on being able to travel on them, but yes they could presumably do some test runs before any platform raising.

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

Even if it only operates within a possession, and is moved to and from by road?

All the road-railers are registered (but not with TOPS), have 12-digit numbers and a 7-year life before retirement, or rebuild to current spec. I was not aware that Trackwork machines had this, hence my reference to 'High Street', the method adopted at, I think, Dawlish and Shakespeare Cliff (put me right, someone, if I've got that wrong). Would save a fortune by not having exclusively NR contractors (and their gold-plated prices).
Pat

 

[Chris125]

How the new trains will be moved will depend on if the build is completed at Long Marston as Vivarail are planing a factory move. If the build is completed at Long Marston my expectation would be that the trains would be dragged to Eastleigh for testing as they cannot be tested in Worcestershire as the TfW trains are being tested because the Old Worse and Worse does not have third rail. On completion of the testing I would expect them to be taken by road to wherever they can be offloaded onto the track.

With gauging work nearing completion I doubt they'll bother testing on the mainland now - probably easier, cheaper and much more representative to bring 001 straight down to the Island.

I am surprised that the Tamper has been moved to the Island so soon as I presume it will remain on the Island until the work is completed next year.

It really can't wait, the track is seriously rough with some lengthy speed restrictions - of course they can also tamp the new track under Rink Road and Smallbrook Lane while here, and perhaps some minor gauging adjustments for the 484s? I doubt it will hang around after that, not for 5 or 6 months.

Anyway, SWR had their drone up for the works at Rink Road last weekend: https://twitter.com/SW_Help/status/1296042235105091586

All the road-railers are registered (but not with TOPS), have 12-digit numbers and a 7-year life before retirement, or rebuild to current spec. I was not aware that Trackwork machines had this, hence my reference to 'High Street', the method adopted at, I think, Dawlish and Shakespeare Cliff (put me right, someone, if I've got that wrong). Would save a fortune by not having exclusively NR contractors (and their gold-plated prices).
Pat

I'm no expert on that but DR73502 appears to have been used in possessions on the national network before? https://www.flickr.com/photos/ukbuses/14955199033/in/photostream/

 

[Vespa]

I've got two weeks off over September October, I'm planning on going to the Isle of Wight and hopefully grab some experience of this train.

Covid condition pending of course.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see. On the North Island it would still have to registered, I think.
Pat

For a moment, I thought we were discussing New Zealand, when I read that.

 

[Rick1984]

I doubt the TfW front end is part of cab strengthening, it will all be internal surely? But there are far more recent images and videos than that wiki “artists impression”.

I know the artist impression is not the most recent image but the other pictures show same front. Just wondering why these have a standard slab front compared to the TfW units.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I know the artist impression is not the most recent image but the other pictures show same front. Just wondering why these have a standard slab front compared to the TfW units.

I suspect the faired front end costs a little more and so they didn't specify it. (If you want the "base model", it can't be far off the IoW version - it's basically just the original Tube train with the new traction package, new cab and a coat of paint).