Island Line, Isle of Wight
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Island Line | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Franchise(s): | Island Line 1996–2003 2003-February 2007 |
| Main area(s): | Isle of Wight |
| Other area(s): | None |
| Fleet size: | 7 (6 operated) |
| Stations: | 8 |
| Parent company: | Stagecoach Group |
| Web site: | www.island-line.co.uk |
Island Line is a railway line on the Isle of Wight, running some 8½ miles from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin down the eastern side of the island. The line was electrified (750 V DC third rail) in 1967.[1] 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.
Because of tight clearances within a tunnel at Ryde, standard National Rail vehicle types cannot operate on the Island Line. Currently, the services are operated using Class 483 units, which are refurbished ex-London Underground tube trains originally built in 1938. These replaced the older Class 485 and Class 486 units, which dated from 1923.
Following its successful bid for the new integrated franchise, Stagecoach announced that it had no plans to replace the current rolling stock, instead investing "to ensure the continued viability of the existing Island Line rolling stock and infrastructure" [1]. By 2016, when the new franchise is due to end, the rolling stock on the Isle of Wight will be almost 80 years old.
The UK's Department for Transport recently designated the Line a 'Community Rail Line' under recent reforms to help boost use of rural and branch lines in the UK rail network.
In the mid-1990s it was planned to reopen the line south of Shanklin, to the original terminus at Ventnor. However, this now seems unlikely to happen, due in part to the high costs involved.
[edit] Train Operating Company
Before 2007, the line was operated by Island Line, the smallest of the Train Operating Companies to make up Britain’s National Rail network, and part of the Stagecoach Group.
It was the only passenger franchise that includes maintenance of the infrastructure in addition to the running of passenger services. Since February 2007, the line has been as part of the South West Trains network, though the independent branding has been retained.
Island Line was reportedly Britain’s most reliable and punctual train company. The shortness and simplicity of the route may be the reason for this.
| Preceded by Network SouthEast As part of British Rail |
Operator of Island Line franchise 1996-2007 |
Succeeded by South West Trains South Western franchise |
[edit] References
- ^ Electric Railways. 'Stendec Systems' (2007). Retrieved on February 1, 2007.
[edit] See also
| Domestic: | Arriva Trains Wales - c2c - Central Trains1 - Chiltern Railways - First Capital Connect First Great Western - First ScotRail - Grand Central2 - GNER - Heathrow Connect Hull Trains - Island Line3 - Merseyrail - Midland Mainline1 - Northern Rail Northern Ireland Railways4 - 'one' - Silverlink1 - Southeastern - Southern South West Trains - TransPennine Express - Virgin Trains (VWC - VXC1) |
|---|---|
| International: | Enterprise4 - Eurostar |
| Airport Link: | Gatwick Express - Heathrow Express - Stansted Express5 |
| Sleeper: | Caledonian Sleeper6 - Night Riviera7 |
| 1 Ends November 2007 - 2 Starts 20 May 2007 - 3 Operated by South West Trains 4 Operated on the Irish railway network - 5 Operated by 'one' - 6 Operated by First ScotRail 7 Operated by First Great Western |
|
| Future passenger train operators and franchises in Great Britain | |
|---|---|
| New Franchises: | Cross Country1 - East Midlands1 - InterCity East Coast - London Overground1 West Midlands1 |
| Proposed open-access operators: |
Glasgow Trains2 - Grand Union2 - Humber & City2 - Wrexham & Shropshire3 |
| 1 Starts November 2007 - 2 Proposed - 3 Awaiting Approval | |
