Ryde Pier Head railway station

In 1880 the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) and London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) agreed to open a jointly-owned line north from Ryde St John's Road. Under the direction of LBSCR Chief Engineer Frederick Banister,[2] the construction of the extension included a new tunnel and a third Ryde Pier to enable the line to reach a new station at Ryde Pier Head, which provided a connection with the companies' ferry services.

When the LBSC/LSWR joint line opened, it was as a double track section from Ryde St John's Road station through to Ryde Pier Head. There was a scissors crossover situated on Ryde Pier to allow trains to access all platforms. Sets of crossovers were installed at St John's Road to enable trains to change from the joint line's left-hand running to the single-track sections on the Isle of Wight Central Railway's Newport line and the Isle of Wight Railway's Shanklin line (now known as the Island Line).[3]

The station originally consisted of three platforms in the form of a pair of islands; a fourth track was added later, opening in 1933.[4] The station was rebuilt on electrification of the remaining line in 1967, and the new layout consisted of two tracks with three platform faces. One of these tracks is now out of use, so only one platform currently operates. This is the track which runs along the western side of the pier; a double track section commences immediately to the south of Ryde Esplanade railway station.

As of May 2019, the condition of some of the station buildings led to criticism that it was not a sufficiently welcoming sight for visitors to the island.[5] There were also significant concerns that the age and condition of the Victorian railway pier would mean the line between the Esplanade and Pier Head might have to be abandoned, as it was not seen as economical to renew the pier based on passenger numbers.[6] However, noting that if the pier railway were to close the rest of the Island Line would serve little purpose and therefore also likely close, Network Rail have agreed to fund £5m worth of renewal work on the pier,[7] as the government makes a £26m investment in new trains and track for the route.[8][9] From 2021 onwards, the Pier Head (and the rest of the Island Line) is served by new Vivarail D-Train Class 484 EMUs, converted from London Underground D78 Stock.

As of May 2022, trains run to Shanklin hourly between 05:45 and 21:49, though on Monday to Friday, there are two two-hour gaps in service. A late evening train additionally calls at stations to St John's Road. Weekend services are hourly all day.

Wightlink passenger ferry services run every hour for most of the day, but are reduced to 2 hourly intervals in the late morning / early afternoons, with the last sailing from Ryde Pier Head at 20:52 daily.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Ryde Esplanade		Island Line Ryde–Shanklin		Terminus
	Ferry services
Terminus		Wightlink high-speed catamaran		Portsmouth Harbour

• 
  Steam train and electric tramcar in 1965
• 
  Familiar Dome
• 
  Car park behind
• 
  Dinosaur train at Ryde Pier Head
• 
  Dinosaur train at Ryde Pier Head
• 
  Looking towards Esplanade station
• 
  Eastern view
• 
  Foyer
• 
  Class 485 Unit 042 in 1969
• 
  Ryde Pier Head in June 2021 the raised part is for the new trains. The station will have level boarding.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ryde Pier Head railway station.

• Train times and station information for Ryde Pier Head railway station from National Rail

50.739°N 1.160°W / 50.739; -1.160