Our One Team Wessex colleagues successfully completed a four week line closure, completing vital track upgrades on Ryde Pier in the Isle of Wight, allowing the partial reopening of the Island Line!
The Island Line was closed in its entirety on Friday 6 September and reopened to programme on Monday 7 October. During the closure, our rail team worked around the clock to complete a huge programme of track renewal and renovations on the historic structure, installing over 188m of new track, signaling, steel beams, ballast, GRP walkways and much more on the pier. The vital renewal works will keep the 140-year-old pier safe and future-proof for at least another 60-years of passenger use.
Ryde Pier remains closed for restoration work until May 2025 as the team undertake the second phase of the programme.
Commenting on the works, Conor Wilcox, Octavius Project Manager for Ryde Pier said: “To achieve such a fantastic end product after only a few months to design, procure and deliver is a testament to our dedicated teams and suppliers. Ryde Pier is one of the harshest places to work in the Wessex Route with many challenges from the weather to the tides to overcome. These works are something to be proud of and will hopefully serve the Island line for many years to come. We look forward to working with SWR and NR to refurbish the remainder of the pier over the coming years”.
-
Installed composite sleepers, including 99 FFU sleepers and 120 sicut sleepers which are more resilient to the environment.
-
44 steel bearers replaced across 11 bays.
-
420 tonnes of ballast replaced.
- Upgraded signalling to enable train services to resume running between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin.
-
Our team worked around the clock for four weeks totalling 14620 hrs, equivalent to 610 days non-stop working.
- 84 Improvement Opportunities submitted
