Island Line cancellations

[chrisp37]

There's been a significant number of cancellations on the Island Line recently due to a shortage of train crew. I last used the line over the coronation bank holiday weekend and there were a number of cancellations on Sunday 7 May for staff sickness. I haven't followed the situation carefully since then but certainly over the last week or so there appears to have been a large number of cancellations almost every day. Today the situation is really quite extreme - there's almost no service for most of the day. Anyone have any insight into how long this is expected to last?

 

[Bletchleyite]

There's been a significant number of cancellations on the Island Line recently due to a shortage of train crew. I last used the line over the coronation bank holiday weekend and there were a number of cancellations on Sunday 7 May for staff sickness. I haven't followed the situation carefully since then but certainly over the last week or so there appears to have been a large number of cancellations almost every day. Today the situation is really quite extreme - there's almost no service for most of the day. Anyone have any insight into how long this is expected to last?

Presumably the issue is that a certain case of the sniffles that's been about since 2020 or thereabouts just gets round the depot and takes everyone out for a week?

Can't see a sensible way to mitigate that bar training some mainland drivers on the units and route and shipping them over as needed, though I don't know how often they'd need to drive it to keep the knowledge up?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Anyone have any insight into how long this is expected to last?

It presumably depends on how long the staff take to get better…

 

[Taunton]

Can't see a sensible way to mitigate that bar training some mainland drivers on the units and route and shipping them over as needed

Time was indeed when Fratton depot used to be able to send over additional crews to The Island in case of need (particularly summer Saturdays), but I guess that era has passed.

 

[pdeaves]

Could it, perhaps, be that SWR/Island line sent a 'shortage of staff' notification that was erroneously interpreted as 'train crew', when it's actually a signaller? Nowhere else would a TOC report signalling staff in that way, so there is potential for misinterpretation. One signaller out would close the line, especially if the only alternative is still on a statutory break between shifts. National Rail (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/shanklin-20230619/) has train crew in the summary and 'staffing shortages' later through.

Naturally, multiple drivers/guards out may be the reason, I'm just musing a less severe (for individuals)/more severe (for the service) possibility.

 

[chrisp37]

Anyone know what’s caused all the disruption on the Island Line today? We caught the 9.45am from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin this morning, and all was fine, but since then I note that pretty much nothing has been on time. There have been many delays of between 20 and over 40 minutes and there has been the odd cancellation too.

 

[pompeyfan]

Anyone know what’s caused all the disruption on the Island Line today? We caught the 9.45am from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin this morning, and all was fine, but since then I note that pretty much nothing has been on time. There have been many delays of between 20 and over 40 minutes and there has been the odd cancellation too.

The 484s use a GPS system to report as there are no TDs built into the signalling on the route. This is reliant on unit allocations in back end systems being correct. If units are incorrectly allocated or swapped out, or if there is a part cancellation which isn’t legged, the units misreport to NRES and trust which show as a delay, even if they are on time. I believe there was no significant delay Saturday.

 

[DelW]

The 484s use a GPS system to report as there are no TDs built into the signalling on the route. This is reliant on unit allocations in back end systems being correct. If units are incorrectly allocated or swapped out, or if there is a part cancellation which isn’t legged, the units misreport to NRES and trust which show as a delay, even if they are on time. I believe there was no significant delay Saturday.

There certainly were significant delays on Saturday afternoon. A friend and I caught the 15:10 steam service from Haven Street, arriving at Smallbrook Junction at 15:21, intending to catch the 15:30 to Pier Head and the 15:45 ferry.

We were warned by the IoWSR chap at Smallbrook that Island Line was delayed. An up train arrived just before 15:30 but that was the previous service, delayed from 15:02 and terminating at Esplanade where it arrived at 15:35. We contemplated a dash up the pier, but it being a hot afternoon, we opted instead for a cup of tea in one of the cafes and a stroll up the pier for the 16:45 ferry instead. I'm still tempted to put in a DR claim.

 

[Cross City]

Possibly the least reliable line in the country?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Possibly the least reliable line in the country?

It's such a simple line that the mind boggles as to why it doesn't have figures better than Merseyrail (typically the most punctual/reliable railway). It really should be achieving 100% day in day out.

 

[Cross City]

It's such a simple line that the mind boggles as to why it doesn't have figures better than Merseyrail (typically the most punctual/reliable railway). It really should be achieving 100% day in day out.

Due to the nature of my work I get exposed to nationwide problems on the railways and there are certain lines which come up a lot more often than others. The Island line, Tyne Metro, and Paddington-Reading are by far the most frequently disrupted.

 

[pompeyfan]

There certainly were significant delays on Saturday afternoon. A friend and I caught the 15:10 steam service from Haven Street, arriving at Smallbrook Junction at 15:21, intending to catch the 15:30 to Pier Head and the 15:45 ferry.

We were warned by the IoWSR chap at Smallbrook that Island Line was delayed. An up train arrived just before 15:30 but that was the previous service, delayed from 15:02 and terminating at Esplanade where it arrived at 15:35. We contemplated a dash up the pier, but it being a hot afternoon, we opted instead for a cup of tea in one of the cafes and a stroll up the pier for the 16:45 ferry instead. I'm still tempted to put in a DR claim.

Sorry to hear this, I know there was cancellations due to a shortage of guards again, but was under the impression the trains that did run, ran reasonably to time. Clearly my information was wrong.

In regards to performance, to end up with delays of that significance is concerning. I know the 484s and the new standards that the railway has to operate to (rather than the grandfather signalling of the 483s) has made performance challenging, and obviously where Brading isn’t dynamic in any form, causes knock on delays as trains wait to pass.

I also understand that previously, the signaller controlled the train service, and could skip a trip (similar to how they do on the St Ives line), however they now have to rely on instruction from Basingstoke control, who don’t have the same tools and experience to manage the island line as previously controlled.

 

[DelW]

It's such a simple line that the mind boggles as to why it doesn't have figures better than Merseyrail (typically the most punctual/reliable railway). It really should be achieving 100% day in day out.

Very tight timings, the fact that Brading loop is not quite at the mid point, and dependence on passing there meaning that any delays knock on and worsen through the day.

Some track speeds might be increased to improve resilience and allow recovery from delays, or possibly an extra crew could be kept spare to put a third unit out back on timetable (utilising one of the other passing loops) and the delayed unit taken out of service at St Johns. But both those incur costs that no-one is likely to be willing to meet.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Very tight timings, the fact that Brading loop is not quite at the mid point, and dependence on passing there meaning that any delays knock on and worsen through the day.

Some track speeds might be increased to improve resilience and allow recovery from delays, or possibly an extra crew could be kept spare to put a third unit out back on timetable (utilising one of the other passing loops) and the delayed unit taken out of service at St Johns. But both those incur costs that no-one is likely to be willing to meet.

There would be no cost of returning to the old 20-40 timetable as the old loops are still there, and it did work. It would involve mothballing* Brading loop and accepting it was a waste of money, but that doesn't cost anything in and of itself, it just requires someone to accept losing face. And it might be useful in disruption. And the ferry rush and misconnects would be avoided by just timing the 20 gap so there's a train 10 minutes either side of the boat.

I actually sort of know (well, have met and talked about it with) one of the staff and he's of the view that would be the best plan.

* Not really mothballing, just using it not to pass trains as per e.g. Rufford and North Llanrwst for the past 20-odd years.

 

[DelW]

I also understand that previously, the signaller controlled the train service, and could skip a trip (similar to how they do on the St Ives line), however they now have to rely on instruction from Basingstoke control, who don’t have the same tools and experience to manage the island line as previously controlled.

I hadn't been aware of that, it does seem bizarre that such an obviously self contained operation as Island Line should be controlled from Basingstoke rather than by the people actually on the spot and running the service. It's not as if their decisions would have much if any implications for mainland services, since passengers' ferry connections seem to be low on the priority list.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I hadn't been aware of that, it does seem bizarre that such an obviously self contained operation as Island Line should be controlled from Basingstoke rather than by the people actually on the spot and running the service. It's not as if their decisions would have much if any implications for mainland services, since passengers' ferry connections seem to be low on the priority list.

Surprised to hear that. Logic would be that the signalling and operations control are shared on a line like that. I thought they had gone that way - have they not?

 

[pompeyfan]

Surprised to hear that. Logic would be that the signalling and operations control are shared on a line like that. I thought they had gone that way - have they not?

There is nothing to stop the signaller ringing Basingstoke prior and saying “can I terminate the 2Uxx at xxxxxx and restart 2Dxx at xxxxxx due to delays caused by xxxxxx” Basingstoke control would then advise NR of the relevant fail to call to create the TIN, leg the unit allocations and then update the CIS systems and NRES accordingly. It would definitely be easier if it was self contained though.

 

[yorkie]

If anyone would like to make any proposals/suggestions, such as changing how it's run, changing the timetable or anything else, please create a new thread (if there isn't one already) or use an existing one, such as:

Future stock for the Island Line?

I realise that the Island Line has only had the Class 484s for 18 months or so but I wonder when that stock comes for replacement in the 2050s or 2060s, what will replace it? My first thought was either the 2009 Victoria Line stock or S Stock but they might be very bad shape by the time they...

www.railforums.co.uk

Can Island Line be speeded up to deliver the originally planned half hourly clockface timetable?

Why are we so absolutely terrible at this sort of stuff in this country? It's depressing. It is an almighty screw-up that a load of highly expensive infrastructure was installed which is clearly incapable of delivering the publicised aim, i.e. a fully consistent half-hourly clockface service...

www.railforums.co.uk

Should more 484 units have been provided for island line services?

Anyone else think 5 units is cutting it a bit too thin? A 30-minute service will require 4 units during the peak, leaving just one unit spare (i.e. not even a full 4-car train). I would have thought an extra unit (for a total of 6) would have provided more resilience for when things go wrong.

www.railforums.co.uk

What can be done to recover Island Line passenger numbers?

I am wondering what long term damage the ongoing delay is doing to rail passenger numbers? Whenever on the Ryde Pier & Hovercraft terminal webcam I see a Rail Replacement bus arrive or depart it seems lightly loaded. I wonder too if since the Fastcat service restarted there has been a...

www.railforums.co.uk

Could Island line frequency increase to up to every 15min and are more units needed?

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-484-to-replace-class-483-on-the-island-line.192181/ Ten carriages seems tight. I can't help thinking that five or six three carriage units might have been worthwhile.

www.railforums.co.uk

(there are many more...!)

 

[cav1975]

There certainly were significant delays on Saturday afternoon. A friend and I caught the 15:10 steam service from Haven Street, arriving at Smallbrook Junction at 15:21, intending to catch the 15:30 to Pier Head and the 15:45 ferry.

We were warned by the IoWSR chap at Smallbrook that Island Line was delayed. An up train arrived just before 15:30 but that was the previous service, delayed from 15:02 and terminating at Esplanade where it arrived at 15:35. We contemplated a dash up the pier, but it being a hot afternoon, we opted instead for a cup of tea in one of the cafes and a stroll up the pier for the 16:45 ferry instead. I'm still tempted to put in a DR claim.

I was on the same trains on Saturday, in my case I was planning to get the 15:45 Hover. Thanks to the late running train being effectoively in the path of the 15:30 I was OK but it certainly terminated at Ryde Esplanade. RealTimeTrains did seem to be accurate when I checked it at Smallbrook Junction which was helpful in calming the nerves.

Incidentally, there was no effort to check or sell tickets despite about 30 people boarding at Smallbrook Junction.

 

[weeklycommuter]

The following is to enable the removal of the 20mph Southbound speed restriction on trains towards Shanklin at the Pig Leg level crossing between Ryde St Johns Road and Smallbrook Junction. This speed restriction must have made it more difficult to reliably operate the Island Line timetable so removing it will help. I have heard there is also a 30mph Northbound speed restriction and other work will need to be done to remove this.

BRAND NEW LIGHTS INSTALLED AT PIG LEG LANE FOOT CROSSING

The foot crossing at Pig Leg Lane in Ryde has been upgraded this week with new lights installed. Brand new red and green lights with an audible alarm were installed on-site at the crossing near Ryde St Johns earlier this week. When running, Island Line trains pass the crossing all day long...

www.islandecho.co.uk

BRAND NEW LIGHTS INSTALLED AT PIG LEG LANE FOOT CROSSING
9th December 2023 09:12
The foot crossing at Pig Leg Lane in Ryde has been upgraded this week with new lights installed.
Brand new red and green lights with an audible alarm were installed on-site at the crossing near Ryde St Johns earlier this week.

 

[DelW]

The following is to enable the removal of the 20mph Southbound speed restriction on trains towards Shanklin at the Pig Leg level crossing between Ryde St Johns Road and Smallbrook Junction. This speed restriction must have made it more difficult to reliably operate the Island Line timetable so removing it will help. I have heard there is also a 30mph Northbound speed restriction and other work will need to be done to remove this.

At least it's encouraging that something is still being done to try to salvage the Island Line modernisation scheme from the near disaster that it's been so far. It's very disappointing that after all the closures, and the money spent on infrastructure and trains, the end result has often been worse than before (as least in reliability and timetabling, as the trains are much nicer than the last days of the 483s).

Maybe with several modest speed improvements acting cumulatively, the half hour interval timetable might be made to work properly. Even if only alternate trains still go to Pier Head, if they could connect reliably with the Fastcats that would go a long way towards making the line a useful connection again.