Island Line, Isle of Wight
| Island Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
A pair of Island Line Class 483s in London Underground livery entering the Ryde tunnel.
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| Overview | |||
| Type | Community railway | ||
| Locale | Isle of Wight | ||
| Termini |
Ryde Pier Head 50°44′19″N 1°09′37″W / 50.7385°N 1.1604°W Shanklin 50°38′02″N 1°10′47″W / 50.6338°N 1.1798°W |
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| Operation | |||
| Owner | Network Rail | ||
| Operator(s) | Island Line Trains | ||
| Depot(s) | Ryde depot | ||
| Rolling stock | British Rail Class 483 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 8 1⁄2 miles (13.7 km) | ||
| Number of tracks | Mixture of single and double track | ||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | 630V DC third rail | ||
| Operating speed | 45 mph (72.4 km/h) | ||
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The Island Line is a railway line on the Isle of Wight, running 8 1⁄2 miles (13.7 km) from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin on the Island's east coast. The line was electrified (630 V DC third rail) in 1967. Trains connect with passenger ferries to Portsmouth Harbour at Ryde Pier Head, and these ferries in turn connect with the rest of the National Rail network. The line also connects to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, a steam-operated heritage railway at Smallbrook Junction. For much of its length the line runs alongside the A3055, criss-crossing this road by means of the Ryde Tunnel and bridges at Rowborough, Morton Common, Lake Hill and Littlestairs.
The line from Ryde St John's Road to Shanklin was opened on 23 August 1864, having been built by the Isle of Wight Railway. In 1866 the line was extended through to Ventnor. The line was originally built as single track throughout, with passing loops provided at Brading, Sandown and Shanklin stations.
In 1880 the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) and London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) opened a jointly-owned line north from Ryde St John's Road. Under the direction of LBSCR Chief Engineer Frederick Banister, the building of the extension included a new tunnel and a third Ryde Pier to enable the line to reach Ryde Pier Head, which provided a connection with the companies' ferry services. When the LBSC/LSWR joint line opened, it was as a double track section from Ryde St John's Road station through to Ryde Pier Head. There was a scissors crossover situated on Ryde Pier to allow trains to access all platforms. Sets of crossovers were installed at St John's Road to enable trains to change from the joint line's left-hand running to the single-track sections on the Isle of Wight Central Railway's Newport line and the Isle of Wight Railway's Shanklin line (now known as the Island Line).
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