MAJOR engineering works on the Island Line and Ryde Pier have progressed, with services set to resume next week after a complete shutdown this past month.

The Island Line route closed in its entirety on September 6, but will reopen between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin next Monday (October 7), amid a major programme of maintenance by Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) engineers.

The £20 million scheme, described by both companies as vital in "futureproofing the service", includes track and bridge renewals between Ryde St Johns Road and Ryde Pier Head stations, together with renovations to a historic footbridge at Brading, signalling works at Ryde and bridge repairs in Sandown.

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Rail replacement bus services will continue to operate between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin — as it has done throughout September — until Sunday.

Engineers will continue work to repair and preserve the historic Ryde Pier structure, which began in October 2022.

The pier will continue to close to trains while the works continue, with the pier's line expected to reopen in early May next year, in time for the summer season.

To maintain connections with ferry services, a minibus shuttle service will continue to operate between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade throughout the closure.

From Monday next week (October 7), train services will operate every 30 minutes between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin.

Part of the track and infrastructure on the Island Line had become 'life-expired', with extreme weather contributing to the acceleration of the degradation of the railway, said Network Rail Wessex.

The planned maintenance programme includes upgrades to the steel structure and track, between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade stations, "to preserve and strengthen the track and infrastructure for future generations," the company added.