Network Rail and its predecessors have continued to own the infrastructure, but lease this out to the operator who is therefore responsible for everyday maintenance of the track[3] and immediate foundations.

A dedicated rail-link feeder bus was introduced in 2004, operating on a direct route between Shanklin and Ventnor, but this was withdrawn in September 2010 after decisions by the Isle of Wight Council about the funding of Wightbus.

[4] However, connections and through ticketing have since been provided on the regular bus service, which was slightly diverted to serve the main station entrance.

[6] The Island Line franchise was, until February 2007, the smallest train operating company on the National Rail network.

[9] In March 2017, the DfT awarded the franchise to a FirstGroup / MTR consortium with South Western Railway, which includes the Island Line, commencing on 20 August 2017.

Standard National Rail vehicle types cannot be used by Island Line Trains, due to the low ceiling within Ryde Tunnel,[16] where the track-bed needed to be raised following flooding.

South West Trains bought the stock outright from the leasing company HSBC Rail in March 2007 for the nominal sum of £1.