Island Line trains will start running again on November 1, according to franchise holder South Western Railway (SWR).

The date has been set, subject to a final round of train safety tests being successfully completed.

The £26 million upgrade has been underway since January and the line was supposed to reopen in the spring.

Delays have been blamed on Covid-19, Brexit and flood damage, as well as software incompatibility problems, which had not been fixed when the County Press asked on September 10.

(Video by Rob Peters)

Today (Wednesday), SWR said good progress has now been made, alongside partner Vivarail, in solving the issues.

The franchise holder says the new trains - which are replacing the historic former London tube trains between Ryde and Shanklin - will significantly improve passengers' experience.

Wheelchair spaces, plug sockets and free WiFi are all included, along with a more frequent service thanks to a new passing area.

Claire Mann, Managing Director of South Western Railway, said: "We are really pleased that the Island Line is set to reopen on 1 November, providing that a final round of testing allows us to safely introduce our new trains into passenger service.

"It goes without saying that the safety of our customers and colleagues is the absolute priority for us, which is why it’s so important to get these final preparations right.

"When the Island Line reopens, the new trains and upgraded infrastructure will give a real boost to the customer experience, delivering the modern, punctual and accessible railway that people expect and deserve.

"We are sorry that this project has taken longer to deliver than we first hoped, with a series of complications sadly delaying re-opening. However, we are confident that the transformed Island Line will be worth wait, and we are so excited to welcome locals and visitors back onboard!"

Isle of Wight County Press:

Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely (left) meeting government rail minister, Chris Heaton-Harris and managing director of South Western Railway, Andy Mellors at Brading in September 2019.

Giving his reaction today (Wednesday), Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely said: “I know that delays have been frustrating to Islanders, especially over the summer months. I am glad that we will, from November 1st, now have a 30-minute rail service that will connect more efficiently with the ferry and with mainland connections.

"Delivering a multi-million-pound upgrade on Island Line is one of the key elements of the Island Deal and I’m glad that this has now been delivered on.”