Trains to run between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde St Johns from Sunday 19 March

SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail (NR) have confirmed that the platform and track improvements planned at Ryde Esplanade station have been postponed, meaning trains will run again from Sunday 19 March, two weeks earlier than planned.

The works are part of the joint programme of vital maintenance and improvements to the historic Ryde Pier, being led by NR and SWR since the autumn, and will be re-phased within the overall programme of works. Revised dates for the works will be announced in due course.

From Sunday 2 April, the Island Line will introduce a new two train per hour timetable between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin, to coincide with the Easter holidays.

Mark Dunn, SWR’s Island Line General Manager, said:

“We are conscious of just how important the Easter holidays are to Island Line customers and local businesses, so we’re pleased we will have trains running from Ryde Esplanade station from Sunday 19 March all the way through the holidays.

“We are now working through the options to reschedule the platform and track improvements at Ryde Esplanade, in the least disruptive way for our customers and the communities we serve.”