Island Line Trains

:"This article is about the train operating company. For other uses, see Island Line."Infobox Rail companies
bgcolor=FFFFFF
logo_filename=Island Line Logo.pngwidthpx=250px
image_filename=Isle of Wight Inselbahn.jpg
widthpx=300px
franchise=Island Line
1996 – 2003
2003 - 3. February 2007
Part of South Western franchise
(4 February 2007 – February 2017)
nameforarea=area
regions=Isle of Wight
secregions=None
fleet=7 (6 operated)
stations=8
parent_company=South West Trains (Stagecoach Group)
website=www.island-line.co.uk

Island Line Trains is a sub-brand of South West Trains, a train operating company on Great Britain's National Rail Network, operating the 8½ mile Island Line on the Isle of Wight.

History

The Island Line franchise was, until February 2007, the smallest train operating company to make up the National Rail network. It was combined with the South West franchise to make the new South Western franchise in an effort to reduce the number of TOCs in the UK. [cite news|title=Stagecoach wins railway franchise|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5369688.stm|publisher=BBC News Online|date=2006-09-22|accessdate=2007-08-26]

The Island Line was the only passenger franchise that included maintenance of the infrastructure in addition to the running of passenger services. Although South West Trains now operates the line, the Island Line branding has been retained. [cite web|url=http://www.island-line.co.uk/Contact%20Us.htm |title=Island Line Online - Contact Us|accessdate=2007-08-26|quote=Island Line is a brand name of Stagecoach South Western Trains Ltd.]

Island Line Trains was reportedly Britain’s most reliable and punctual train company. The shortness and simplicity of the route may be the reason for this.

Rolling stock

Because of tight clearances within a tunnel at Ryde, standard National Rail vehicle types could not operate on the Island Line. [cite web|url=http://www.squarewheels.org.uk/rly/stock/IsleOfWight/|title=1938 tube stock on the Isle of Wight|accessdate=2007-08-26] Therefore, Class 483 units were used, which were refurbished ex-London Underground tube trains originally built in 1938.

Remaining units are now being repainted in their entirety in their heritage red London Transport colours, albeit with front end yellow warning panels. Rolling stock before 2008 was formerly painted in a cheery blue dinosaur livery in order to entice tourists in the summer months when passenger numbers are high.

The route

The railway operates to several stations including:
*Ryde Pier Head
*Ryde Esplanade
*Ryde St John's Road
*Smallbrook Junction
*Brading
*Sandown
*Lake
*Shanklin

References

External links

* [http://www.island-line.co.uk Island Line official website]
s-ttl|rows=2|title=Sub-brand of South Western franchise
years=2007 - present
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