Eagle eyed Islanders have spotted a new Island Line train running along the railway track that links Shanklin and Ryde Pier Head.

One resident, whose house backs on to the South Western Railway line, told the Isle of Wight County Press of her surprise when she spotted it outside her window yesterday (Monday).

She described it as 'quiet', but taller than the outgoing 1938-built tube trains, which have been serving the Island since the late 1980s.

Also former (but much newer) tube network trains, the Class 484s have been converted, stripped back and refurbished by mainland firm Vivarail.

Photographer, and Isle of Wight County Press Camera Club member, Josh Thomas, snapped photos of the train at the station (scroll through our gallery above).

The current Island Line trains will be decommissioned when the line shuts for work, at the end of this month (December).

The upgrades - including a passing loop - are expected to be completed by the spring.

The new trains are arriving in the weeks leading up to Christmas, meanwhile, transported to the Island by ferry.

The first was captured on camera by Islanders late last month.

Isle of Wight County Press: The trains as they used to be, by author Richard Long

Picture by author of Ryde Rail: A History of Tube Trains on the Isle of Wight, Richard Long. Scroll throgh more at the top of this story!

One of the old Island Line trains is due to go to Epping, north of London, to a heritage railway attraction linked to the capital's tube network.

Another is rumoured to be destined for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's Train Story museum shed, at Havenstreet.

Meanwhile, author Richard Long has shared his photos of the original Island Line trains, with the County Press.

He wrote Ryde Rail: A History of Tube Trains on the Isle of Wight, on the subject of the Island's long association with former tube trains.