I'm wondering about that other, eastern track going all the way to Ryde pier, what is it for? Today I got red light at Ryde St Jons, the other train was about to leave from Ryde pier, there's lot of double track to the switch before Esplanade (and then to the pier station) but the signal had me to wait anyway. So... what is the other track for and why can't we wait for green just out of the tunnel before Esplanade? I know that it is just like IRL, but it feels kind of weird.
That is as per real life. The other line between Ryde Pier Head & Esplanade is out of use and has been for a long time due to condition of track and the subway at Esplanade is flooded meaning no access to the other platform. The reason for the red signal will be like real life due to the signalling “overlap”
I suppose you know this already, but Ryde Pier used to be much busier in the past, and had even another pair of tracks. But later it got reduced to only 2 tracks, and nowdays it's only 1 track in use, just like in game. Though I agree, it would be lovely to see the route have more traffic, sadly that's the reality. It's also kind of sad to see all those wide bridges and Brading station, they were obviously built for a second track in mind, yet it's all empty. Would love to see an alternative reality where the branch lines on Isle of Wight didn't close and the route remained busy.
Thanks a lot for the answers, I've just watched a cab ride video onboard Class 485, with double track from Brading to Sandown (but without Sandbrook Junction nor the steam railway). It would be really interesting with more traffic, I think there was a train every 12 minutes back then. Maybe we could get Class 485 some day with older version of the Island Line to drive, just dreaming
