In light of the Isle of Wight council’s decision to reduce capacity of privilege seats on many school bus routes, Southern Vectis have announced they’ll be providing additional capacity on a number of routes.
Examples of the new routes include the 63 for students travelling from Ventnor to Medina College – one of the scrapped routes mentioned earlier today – which will also pick up along the way in Wroxall, Godshill, Rookley and Blackwater.
Full details can be found on the Southern Vectis Website, which include some new additional routes specifically aimed at students without a privileged seat for 2020-21.
Details of the costs involved can be found on the SV Website.
IWC welcome news
Following this article being published, the Isle of Wight council press office issued this statement.
The Isle of Wight council The Isle of Wight Council has welcomed today’s (Monday) announcement by Southern Vectis of additional school bus services from September.
Following discussions with the council, the bus company has revealed plans to run additional buses along some of its key commercial routes linking to schools, as well as some dedicated school buses.
Some of the new routes are specifically aimed at students getting to and from school.
Many of the new commercial school routes are designed to provide options for pupils who would have previously used a spare seat on school buses — including those living in the West Wight.
Full details of these services are available on the Southern Vectis website.
Councillor Paul Brading, Cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills, said:
“We are extremely grateful to Southern Vectis for putting together such a comprehensive timetable of additional school bus services.
“The extra capacity and school bus services will supplement our new home-to-school transport contract with the company ensuring the majority of Island students have the option of a seat on a school bus.
“I’m particularly pleased that a direct bus service will be available to young people living in the West Wight who attend Cowes Enterprise College, Christ the King or Carisbrooke College.”
All children eligible for home-to-school transport will be provided with a council-funded transport service from September, using buses, minibuses, taxis and bus and train passes for use on the public network.
Article edit
8.40am 18th Aug 2020 – Statement from IWC added
