Island Line fact file
The Island Line on the Isle of Wight operates between Ryde and Shanklin, serving Smallbrook Junction, Brading, Sandown and Lake intermediate stations.
It has always been the Isle of Wight’s main line, even when the Island boasted a complex 53-mile rail network with 36 stations and halts. The first services between Ryde (St Johns) and Shanklin, with intermediate stations at Brading and Sandown, ran on 23 August 1864.
Fierce opposition from local landowners and the need to cut a 1,312 yard tunnel through St Boniface Down delayed the opening of a four-mile extension of the line to Wroxall and Ventnor, 11.5 miles from Ryde, until 15 September 1866. The Ryde to Ventnor Line, serving the developing seaside resorts along the Islands east coast, was an immediate success.
Statistics
Operated by: Stagecoach South Western Trains Ltd
| Route | | To | | Miles | | Yards |
|---|
| | | | | | | |
| Ryde Pier Head | | Ryde Esplanade | | | | 704 |
| | | | | | | |
| Ryde Pier Head | | St Johns Rd | | 1 | | 418 |
| | | | | | | |
| Ryde Pier Head | | Smallbrook Junction | | 2 | | 330 |
| | | | | | | |
| Ryde Pier Head | | Brading | | 4 | | 1210 |
| | | | | | | |
| Ryde Pier Head | | Sandown | | 6 | | 902 |
| | | | | | | |
| Ryde Pier Head | | Lake | | 7 | | 604 |
| | | | | | | |
| Ryde Pier Head | | Shanklin | | 8 | | 616 |
Transport linkWightlink High speed catamarans run the route between Portsmouth Harbour station and Ryde Pier Head in around 18 minutes.
Isle of Wight Steam Railway (to Wootton) from Smallbrook Junction station
Hovertravel Hovercraft service to Southsea at Ryde Esplanade station
Southern Vectis bus services at Ryde Esplanade
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Lines openedRyde St Johns Road – Shanklin opened 23 August 1864
Ryde St Johns Road – Ryde Esplanade on 5 April 1880
Ryde Esplanade – Ryde Pier Head on 12 July 1880
Lake station on 11 May 1987
Smallbrook Junction station on 20 July 1991
Steam worked: Until 31 December 1966
Electrified: January 1967 – March 1967
Electric worked: From 20 March 1967
Present trains: Class 483 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)
Based: Ryde St Johns Road traincare depot
SignalBox: Ryde St Johns Road (Up side – lever & panel operated)
Signalling systems: Ryde Pier Head to Ryde St Johns Road – Track Circuit Block
Smallbrook Junction to Sandown – Tokenless Block Sandown to Shanklin – One train working
Double Track: Ryde Pier Head to Smallbrook Junction (2 Miles 330 Yards)
Single Track: Smallbrook Junction – Shanklin (6 Miles and 286 Yards)
Passing Loop: Sandown
Sidings/Yards: Ryde St Johns Road traincare depot (down side) Sandown – Engineers yard (Up side)
Tunnel: Ryde – 391 yards (357.4 metres)
Level Crossings: None
Freight Crossings: None
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