Thanks to Stuart from the Island Bus Users Group for latest news on changes to the bus services affecting the Ventnor area. Ed
The summer bus timetable finishes earlier than usual this year on Saturday 30th August with just a few changes in the Ventnor area.
The peak summer Sunday journeys on Rail Link service 16 are withdrawn so there will be no Sunday bus service at all between the Botanic Gardens and St.Lawrence. There are no changes to services 3 & 31.
Service 6 sees additional morning journeys on weekdays with the first bus in each direction running an hour earlier than at present so that the first bus from Niton to Ventnor will be at 0906 and the first one from Ventnor to Newport via Niton will start from Pine Point at 0642.
On Sundays there are no changes to service 6 from Newport to Ventnor, but from Ventnor to Newport the 0957 & 1842 journeys are withdrawn so that the last bus will be about an hour earlier than at present.
As previously announced, the Island Coaster service (X40) will continue running daily until 2nd November to Freshwater Bay and Alum Bay via Blackgang Chine and the Military Road.
Some good news for users of services 16 & 31 is that, from 1st September, holders of Southern Vectis Freedom and Rover tickets will be able to use these on all Wightbus services at no extra cost, although you still won’t be able to buy them on Wightbus services.
However, don’t forget you can buy them at any shops displaying the PayPoint symbol.
Finally, passengers may have noticed some new buses on service 3 (and occasionally on service 6). Southern Vectis have bought 17 Scania double deck buses from Poland and these are currently being delivered.
A special higher powered version has been bought to cope with the hills when leaving Ventnor! When delivery is completed in a few weeks time, virtually all journeys on service 3 will be operated by low-floor buses so that wheelchair users will be able to travel on this service and it will no longer be necessary to fold pushchairs and buggies.
At 10.9 metres the new buses are longer than any existing double deckers which also means there is improved legroom between seats.
More details of further changes to come later.
