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Island Line Railway - current state and the future

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essexjohn

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At its busiest the Pier Head saw 5 trains an hour (1 to Cowes, 2 to Ventnor, 1 terminating at Shanklin, 1 terminating at Sandown). The layout had 2 platforms each with 2 faces. Only the two middle tracks provided a run round facility. Even with fewer trains, there was often a need to shunt stock from one platform to another to free a locomotive.
 
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Chris125

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When is the next significant date about the future of the island line now that the consultation has closed?

SWR have to submit a costed plan to the DfT by May.

I'm no engineer but surely if the island line infrastructure use to be able to take steam trains, the infrastructure could be reverted back to allow larger trains.

Larger yes, but even the steam trains had to be small by mainland standards - a major reason why low roofed/short bodied pre-grouping carriages survived to the end.

The island steam fleet was exclusively tank engines so turning would not be required.

Turntables weren't necessary but they were provided at the original termini when the line opened between Ryde and Shanklin - though it's doubtful they saw much (if any) use.

Ryde St Johns' turntable soon disappears from the maps; Shanklin's was presumably moved to Ventnor in time for it's opening, helpfully avoiding the need for a traditional headshunt until Southern Railway days.
 

Br483

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Which island line trains actually work?
I have only seen 004, 006, and 008 running but according to Wikipedia 007 and 009 also run, or at least are in service. As of May 2018, 009 and 002 look very sorry for themselves (although 009 looks like it works as she is often in different places in the depot) at Ryde depot and 007 is nowhere to be seen.

Thanks
 

Chris125

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'Island Line's oldest trains could be replaced within two years'

The IW County Press are reporting on SWR's presentation to the local council last night, on their plans for Island Line:

South Western Railway, which operates Island Line, said the 1938 London Underground trains would be replaced — not with brand new trains, but they will be 'significantly newer' than the current stock...

...Other improvements in the pipeline include the introduction of a new timetable, with trains every 30 minutes, onboard wifi and charging ports, information boards and new CCTV. A new platform layout at Ryde Interchange would create improved access for Hovertravel passengers.


The KILF group have a bit more detail:

- Fully refurbished rolling stock of a larger profile, allowing guards to move between carriages
- SWR intend to upgrade the track
- A structural survey of Ryde Pier shows the supporting steelwork to be sound, but decking and track require replacement which is the recommended option.​

This will be put to the DfT shortly, with a decision due by the end of year. If agreed replacement stock could arrive by 2020.
 

yorksrob

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'Island Line's oldest trains could be replaced within two years'

The IW County Press are reporting on SWR's presentation to the local council last night, on their plans for Island Line:




The KILF group have a bit more detail:

- Fully refurbished rolling stock of a larger profile, allowing guards to move between carriages
- SWR intend to upgrade the track
- A structural survey of Ryde Pier shows the supporting steelwork to be sound, but decking and track require replacement which is the recommended option.​

This will be put to the DfT shortly, with a decision due by the end of year. If agreed replacement stock could arrive by 2020.

Sounds like very good news indeed. Interesting that they will bring in 'wider profile' stock. I wonder what it will be.
 

Bletchleyite

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I assume 230s are too big to fit in the tunnels?

If you listen to Shooter's speech on another thread (forget where) he says very definitively that they are not (length was said to be the main issue rather than height, and they are short vehicles), and talks of another potential order for them which I think was for 3-car sets with air conditioning.

I think this is near enough confirmation, personally. There isn't a lot else it could be - unless they're going to do heavy work on the tunnel to make 455s (or the 2-car variant) fit or something. PEPs of some kind are another possibility with their smaller bodyshell, but they are really getting on somewhat and not necessarily in great condition. And it would carry on the charm (popular with enthusiasts, which while not the priority do I'm sure provide a not insignificant extra market on the side) of ex-LU stock on the Island.
 

MotCO

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If you listen to Shooter's speech on another thread (forget where) he says very definitively that they are not (length was said to be the main issue rather than height, and they are short vehicles), and talks of another potential order for them which I think was for 3-car sets with air conditioning.

I think this is near enough confirmation, personally. There isn't a lot else it could be - unless they're going to do heavy work on the tunnel to make 455s (or the 2-car variant) fit or something.
Battery or diesel?
 

DanNCL

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The only other stock that'll be coming free around then that might work on the Island line are the current Tyne & Wear Metro trains, which would fit through Ryde tunnel. They would however need to be converted from 1.5kv overhead to 750v third rail though, which is probably the only thing that would stop them being used on the Island line.
 

Domh245

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Because the Deep Tube Upgrade Programme (no longer NTFL) is still a good few years away. D78/230 is available now, and if (as alluded to) it fits they'll provide a far better travelling environment. Not to mention that the 1992TS are really only fit for the scrapyard, they're riddled with obsolete 90's technology and are in a few cases held together with tape.
 

DanNCL

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Well why not wait until the NTfL and take some 1992 Stock and retrofit air-con?
They're not going to be available for nearly 10 years though.

Also the 1992 stock isn't very reliable, indeed I think reliability is why it's being replaced at the same time as the 1972 stock.

The only realistic options are D stock or The Tyne & Wear Metro stock, and even then I'm not 100% confident that the latter would be suitable for the island line as they're non-standard in using 1.5kv DC overhead lines.
 

swt_passenger

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...The only realistic options are D stock or The Tyne & Wear Metro stock, and even then I'm not 100% confident that the latter would be suitable for the island line as they're non-standard in using 1.5kv DC overhead lines.
Tyne Wear metro cars use two 750v traction motors in series. Shouldn’t be impossible to alter, if funds allow.
 

Chris125

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We can safely assume now the Island will be getting D78s - they fit, they're in good condition with decade old bogies and a modern interior, and the curvature of the platforms at Esplanade and restricted size of the depot favours short-bodied rolling stock.
 

MotCO

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The only other stock that'll be coming free around then that might work on the Island line are the current Tyne & Wear Metro trains, which would fit through Ryde tunnel.

Do these have aircon, or is it easy to fit?
 

DanNCL

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Tyne Wear metro cars use two 750v traction motors in series. Shouldn’t be impossible to alter, if funds allow.
So presumably it would simply be a case of removing the pantograph and fitting shoes? Or would there need to be more modifications to work from a third rail? If there aren't many modifications that would be needed to make them work from a third rail then these might actually be more suitable for the Island line than 230s!
 

DanNCL

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Do these have aircon, or is it easy to fit?
They aren't currently fitted with aircon, but some of them previously had a cab aircon module fitted to the roof; it should be relatively easy to fit aircon modules for the passenger area to the roof.
 
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