For much of its length the line runs alongside the A3055, criss-crossing this road by means of the Ryde Tunnel and bridges at Rowborough, Morton Common, Lake Hill and Littlestairs.

The line then leaves Ryde and continues southwards, reducing to single-track immediately north of the next station, Smallbrook Junction.

[3] As of April 2023, train services on the line run every 30 minutes in each direction between Ryde and Shanklin, calling at all intermediate stations except (usually) Smallbrook Junction.

[4] The line from Ryde St John's Road to Shanklin was opened on 23 August 1864, having been built by the Isle of Wight Railway.

The line was originally built as single track throughout, with passing loops provided at Brading, Sandown and Shanklin stations.

In 1926, crossovers and a signalbox were installed at Smallbrook Junction to extend double track operation from St John's Road.

British Rail opened two new stations on the line - Lake in 1987, and Smallbrook Junction in 1991, which links to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

In 1989, the passenger service was branded as Island Line for the first time, as the name and logo was included on the "new" Class 483 trains' livery.

Uniquely on the National Rail network, the franchise agreement also required the successful bidder to maintain the railway line in addition to the stations and trains.

[22] Stagecoach Group were announced as the winner of the franchise and from October 1996 they operated passenger services under the name Island Line Trains.

This system is almost identical to the one originally fitted to the trains when in service on the London Underground, although it is in use only at signals protecting single-track sections of the route.

Stagecoach was announced as the winner of the expanded franchise and operated Island Line as a South West Trains subsidiary.

[2][33] The reinstatement of a long-removed passing loop at Brading was also planned in order to allow trains to run at even half-hourly intervals, with island-based stakeholders including the Isle of Wight Council and Solent Local Enterprise Partnership contributing £1 million.

[29][34] The plan as suggested in 2007-8 envisaged the passing loop at Brading replacing that at Sandown, which would have been abandoned along with the remaining double track within Ryde.

In August 2020, it was announced that instead of two different closure periods, the line would close completely from 4 January until 31 March 2021 for physical upgrades including platform work and the Brading loop.

[45] In August 2021, flooding caused damage at 16 sites on Island Line, with 200 tonnes of ballast from the mainland needed to carry out repairs.

However good progress has been made with the testing of the trains and the infrastructure works are largely complete with only snagging items to deal with.

[12][50] A number of suggestions have been made for the future of the railway, which faces long-standing issues such as the cost of maintaining Ryde Pier.

It suggested converting the route with the third rail replaced with overhead lines and the remaining double-track singled with just passing loops provided.

[59] The Isle of Wight Council's Local Transport Plan previously mentioned that any improvements to the railway should ensure compatibility with the currently shelved South Hampshire Rapid Transit scheme.

[60] On 23 May 2020, the Department for Transport announced that approval had been given to investigate the possible reinstatement of some or all of the tracks between Shanklin and Ventnor and Ryde and Newport.

[62][63] In July 2021, an outline case was submitted by the Isle of Wight Council to the Department for Transport, seeking funding for a £67 million project to study the feasibility of restoring the link between the existing Ryde to Shanklin line and the island's main town, Newport, running via Blackwater.

If it is approved by the government through the Restoring Your Railway programme, the next stage would entail the authority preparing a more detailed business plan.

The Island Line proposal will be given detailed feedback including recommended next steps and alternative routes for consideration as appropriate.

[66] Due to the isolated and rural nature of the Isle of Wight's railways, rolling stock has tended to be made up from displaced older vehicles, rebuilt or modified as required.

Following the work undertaken during the line's closure during the winter of 1966–1967, the ceiling of Ryde Tunnel is 10 inches (250 mm) too low for standard National Rail vehicle types to clear.

The initial trains were formed of so-called Standard Stock, made up into four- and three-coach sets (with one spare vehicle, normally kept at Ryde depot), designated "4-VEC" and "3-TIS" in the British Rail Southern Region electric multiple unit classification system.