If you fancy a ride in a refurbished ex-District line train, then head to the Isle of Wight from November.

The Island Line, which famously used to use former London Underground tube trains has been upgrading the line to accept former District line trains, and they’ve confirmed that the first trains will run on 1st November.

The ex- District line trains have been converted by Vivarail, which converts the bodyshell of the old Metro-Cammell manufactured trains so that they can be used on the mainline rail network.

The trains were due to come into service earlier this year, but upgrading the line has taken longer to complete than first anticipated. This has been due to several factors including train testing complications, the pandemic, and even the flash flooding which engulfed the Isle of Wight earlier this summer.

During testing, the new Class 484 Island Line trains have been affected by software issues, which SWR and train supplier Vivarail had to fix during the testing of the line.

As well as testing the new trains, SWR staff have been busy improving the rail infrastructure and stations on the Island. Amongst other enhancements, the Island Line tracks have been upgraded to provide a smoother ride.

So if you fancy a ride in some ex-London Underground trains, head to the Isle of Wight from 1st November.

(c) SWR

NEWSLETTER

Be the first to know what's on in London, and the latest news published on ianVisits.

You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails.

Tagged with:
SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE

This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles.

It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising.

Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver, every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website, and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts.

If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here.

Thank you

One comment
  1. Spencer Richards says:

    I am sure everyone will enjoy the new trains and smoother ride, but for me one part of the nostalgia of the original old trains was how bumpy the ride was, reminded me of a kid and the central line between Epping & Theydon Bois where I lived, you literally used to hang on for dear life, loved it!

Home >> News >> Transport News