Island Line trains suffer wheelset problems

South Western Railway’s Vivarail Class 484 electric multiple units on the Isle of Wight have been suffering severe wheelset issues, allegedly caused by the track on the 8 ½-mile line between Ryde and Shanklin.

The units, converted from London Underground D78 stock that dates from the early 1980s, only entered traffic in November 2021, replacing Class 483s that dated from 1938.

484001 is reported not to have worked since last summer. Replacement wheelsets are being sourced.

The trains’ supplier, Vivarail, went into administration in December 2022, hampering the availability of spare parts.