Class 484 replacing class 483 on the island line: progress updates

[Flange Squeal]

Its not clear when the line will reopen to regular services yet and a firm official date has not been announced - some talk is of late-June to mid-July, while others suggest the end of the summer.

The weekly engineering work posters are now saying late Summer - "Island Line is closed until late Summer 2021 for major improvement work, including new trains to provide a more reliable service".

Source: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/~/media/69d8f78c54184c93a1228ef1f58c2c86.ashx

 

[spark001uk]

How did 484004 get from Sandown to Ryde if the line isn't energised? Has it had some temporary batteries fitted, like 001?

 

[Journeyman]

How did 484004 get from Sandown to Ryde if the line isn't energised? Has it had some temporary batteries fitted, like 001?

They've been using a Unimog road/rail vehicle to move things about.

 

[A0wen]

As I understand it, Victoria of Wight can take higher vehicles than St Clare (and I can’t imagine the internal deck was being used - I’ve never seen that). The St Faith, having lost its mezzanine decks, can also take higher vehicles than St Clare. Seems to me more likely that the choice of crossing was for other reasons, or possibly even random.

Having said that, I see that the first trains, delivered in November, also came on St Clare, so perhaps there is some reason for that being the vessel of choice.

The crossing was probably defined by Wightlink on the basis of the size / weight of the vehicles and other loads crossing to the island that day. I suspect that some carriers / companies have standard bookings with Wightlink which are regular slots - the likes of the supermarkets will have done this to plan their fleet movements. The movement of the rail carriages will have to fit around those.

 

[Chris125]

Some of the windows in this video look dark/cloudy, is that to be expected or has moisture got inside?

 

[Goldfish62]

Some of the windows in this video look dark/cloudy, is that to be expected or has moisture got inside?

Those are the windows housing the door pockets so there are two panes (not double glazed) while the others are just a single pane, so maybe just the way the lighting shines through them.

 

[swt_passenger]

Those are the windows housing the door pockets so there are two panes (not double glazed) while the others are just a single pane, so maybe just the way the lighting shines through them.

Perhaps they are a natural dirt trap on the inside? But presumably access is difficult, is it a case of removing the interior glass?

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

The interior window frames have hinges at the top, so presumably the windows can swing open for access to the door pockets.

File:London MMB O3 District Line D-Stock.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

 

[Goldfish62]

The interior window frames have hinges at the top, so presumably the windows can swing open for access to the door pockets.

File:London MMB O3 District Line D-Stock.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

That's correct.

 

[swt_passenger]

That's correct.

So it could just be a case of catching up with routine cleaning, hopefully?

 

[A0wen]

So it could just be a case of catching up with routine cleaning, hopefully?

Or it could be as @Goldfish62 points out a trick of the light caused by the type of window. Let's not go casting stones about "routine cleaning" not happening without some better evidence i.e. a decent still photo taken in daylight.

 

[swt_passenger]

Or it could be as @Goldfish62 points out a trick of the light caused by the type of window. Let's not go casting stones about "routine cleaning" not happening without some better evidence i.e. a decent still photo taken in daylight.

I’m not trying to criticise, just suggesting that the normal day to day in service cleaning regime might not be in place during test running.

 

[Chris125]

My god it's been a long time coming, but 484001 is being hauled through Ryde Tunnel to check the clearances right now:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/355569249197459/permalink/509570217130694/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/355569249197459/permalink/509546340466415/

And into the tunnel 484 001 goes. Will it ever be seen again?!!!

 

[Bob Price]

Yep watching it live now. Doesn't seem to be a line of debris behind it.

 

[swt_passenger]

Yep watching it live now. Doesn't seem to be a line of debris behind it.

Fancy that. No doubt the next artificial concern will be its excess weight on the pier…

 

[KendalKing]

Yep watching it live now. Doesn't seem to be a line of debris behind it.

I await, for all those who were saying it wouldn't fit, to apologise.

 

[Chris125]

Fancy that. No doubt the next artificial concern will be its excess weight on the pier…

To be fair it has been suggested that NR aren't happy with the condition of the pier at the moment - that might be nothing, but I couldn't help noticing 001 stayed firmly on dry land with no checking of clearances at the far end of the esplanade platform let alone a trundle up the pier.

 

[Gloster]

At 14.10 it was in Esplanade station with no obvious scrapes and various staff standing around quite calmly; it had gone an hour later. Compared to the 483, it really does seem to fill the station.

 

[D365]

At 14.10 it was in Esplanade station with no obvious scrapes…

The fact that you had to include this word…

 

[Gloster]

The fact that you had to include this word…

I was merely indicating that I didn’t get a close look as the platform is fenced off.

 

[DelW]

At 14.10 it was in Esplanade station with no obvious scrapes and various staff standing around quite calmly; it had gone an hour later. Compared to the 483, it really does seem to fill the station.

Arrived at 13:40, returned at 14:43, both moves with a Unimog (or similar) at the seaward end. Still currently visible on rewind on the webcam.

 

[swt_passenger]

Arrived at 13:40, returned at 14:43, both moves with a Unimog (or similar) at the seaward end. Still currently visible on rewind on the webcam.

I was wondering about the Unimog, was it brought in specifically for the 483 introduction, or for the overall infrastructure project, and will it be retained because it seems ideal for general use.

 

[DelW]

I was wondering about the Unimog, was it brought in specifically for the 483 introduction, or for the overall infrastructure project, and will it be retained because it seems ideal for general use.

It's branded for a company called Elmec Solutions, but they seem to be a specialist plant hire company rather than a contractor. So it's presumably on hire to one of the companies carrying out the upgrade work.

 

[swt_passenger]

It's branded for a company called Elmec Solutions, but they seem to be a specialist plant hire company rather than a contractor. So it's presumably on hire to one of the companies carrying out the upgrade work.

Ok thanks, I hadn’t noticed that. So it’s effectively just a hired in RRV.

 

[adrock1976]

Are the 484s former London Underground Piccadilly Line stock?

I did read somewhere years ago that some of the 73 tube stock would make their way to the island to replace the 1938 stock.

 

[Journeyman]

Are the 484s former London Underground Piccadilly Line stock?

I did read somewhere years ago that some of the 73 tube stock would make their way to the island to replace the 1938 stock.

No, it's D Stock from the District Line. No 73 Stock has been withdrawn from service yet.

 

[MotCO]

Are the 484s former London Underground Piccadilly Line stock?

I did read somewhere years ago that some of the 73 tube stock would make their way to the island to replace the 1938 stock.

No, they are ex District Line stock converted by Vivarail.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Are the 484s former London Underground Piccadilly Line stock?

I did read somewhere years ago that some of the 73 tube stock would make their way to the island to replace the 1938 stock.

Former District Line D stock made surplus by the introduction of the S Stock. 73 Stock still awaits replacement in London

 

[Gloster]

Are the 484s former London Underground Piccadilly Line stock?

I did read somewhere years ago that some of the 73 tube stock would make their way to the island to replace the 1938 stock.

The 484 are former D78 stock, i.e. sub-surface size. Just about every type of London tube stock has probably been reported ‘on good authority’ to be heading for the island at some time or another.

 

[Journeyman]

The 484 are former D78 stock, i.e. sub-surface size. Just about every type of London tube stock has probably been reported ‘on good authority’ to be heading for the island at some time or another.

Yup. There were even serious suggestions made for the Glasgow Subway stock!