A UK island renowned for its charm, beauty and character is set to open the country's only floating railway station in a matter of weeks. The Isle of Wight attracts hordes of holidaymakers every year thanks to its stunning beaches, charming villages, rich history and outdoor adventures.

But now the island is set to reopen a famous attraction in the form of a floating railway called the Island Line, which runs along the island's east coast between Ryde and Shanklin and includes a journey along the Ryde Pier. The sea railway line between the esplanade and the pier head has been closed since September 2024 to give it a new lease of life. Built in 1814, it’s the oldest pier in the UK and adds a unique backdrop to the train’s route. 

At 1,740 feet Ryde's pier is the second-longest seaside pier in the country and only Southend's is longer. In 1824, it was extended to 2,040 feet, making it a one-of-a-kind structure in Britain.

The first transport on the pier was a horse-powered tram before the emergence of diesel engines in the 1950s. Now, visitors can walk, drive or take the train to the pier head.

Engineers have been carrying out maintenance and refurbishment works to make the pier and the Island Line "more resilient to extreme weather", Network Rail said.

During the closure 110m of new track is being laid through Ryde Esplanade station. It is hoped that the composite sleepers will last for at least 60 years.

Around 48 new rail bearers over 65m from the end of Ryde Esplanade toward Ryde Pierhead are being installed. As well as amending signalling (the railways traffic lights), to enable train services to resume running between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin.

The track through Ryde Esplanade station is being realigned to reduce the gap between the train and platform. 

On May 2, the first service is due to depart Ryde St Johns at 5:23am, with the first train from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin leaving at 6:03am.

George Murrell, from Network Rail Wessex, said: "We're now on the home stretch of this work and while I know it will be disappointing, we will need to close the line for the week preceding the resumption of services to finish the final pieces of work.

"I'd like to again thank passengers, residents and businesses for their patience and understanding while we've undertaken this programme of critical repairs and upgrades."