ScotRail’s full timetable has been restored, after three months of reduced services.
A pay deal was agreed with ASLEF on 25 September, and ScotRail said it can now restore the service that had been advertised until 10 July, having also recruited more than 250 drivers since April 2022 in a bid to reduce its reliance on drivers working overtime.
Meanwhile, trains have started running again on the Isle of Wight between Ryde and Shanklin after a month of engineering work, but not to Ryde Pier Head.
During the closure Network Rail engineers laid 110m of new track through Ryde Esplanade, using composite sleepers which are more resilient to the maritime atmosphere, and which should last for 60 years. They also installed about 48 new rail bearers on a 65m section from the end of Ryde Esplanade station towards Ryde Pier Head.
Signalling was improved and the track through Ryde Esplanade station was slewed to reduce the gap between trains and the platform. Elsewhere, track was also renewed at Smallbrook Junction, two bridge decks were renewed, another bridge was repaired at Sandown and the footbridge at Brading was improved.
The pier section, which relies on a Victorian structure, will remain closed until May to allow parts of the pier to be maintained or replaced.
Network Rail Wessex route infrastructure director Tom McNamee said: ‘We’re delighted to have completed an important programme of maintenance on the Island Line over the past month, alongside our SWR colleagues.
‘All of our focus now turns to continuing life extension work to the Ryde Pier structure which presents a unique and challenging working environment for our engineers. We recognise closing this stretch of track between Ryde Pierhead and Ryde Esplanade will be disruptive to passengers. However continuing this work is imperative for the continued safe and reliable running of Island Line services.’