The Sandhopper Free Bus, an initiative funded by the South Western Railways Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCiF), is all set to kickstart its ‘Summer Sunday half hourly Service’ from 23rd July through to 27th August.
The service will run between Sandown Railway Station, the bustling town and Dinosaur Isle, located on the picturesque sea front’s Culver Parade on the Isle of Wight.
Enhancing Isle of Wight’s community connectivity
This initiative, spearheaded by the Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership (CRP), is aimed at enhancing the connectivity for both Islanders and day visitors alike.
The plan is to leverage the Wightlink Catamaran service, Island Line, and the Southern Vectis bus service, all with the ultimate aim of providing easy access to the town museum and beach throughout the balmy summer months.
Community Cafe to offer jazz and refreshments
Further adding to the summer festivities, the Gaslight Community Cafe will also be open during these days, from midday until 4.30 in the afternoon.
The café will serve refreshments and also offer a touch of culture with Jazz performances by Ali Smith and her associates, taking place between 1pm and 3pm.
Mayor to officially launch the initiative
To mark the official launch of this community initiative, Alex Lightfoot, the Mayor of Sandown, was due to be present at Sandown Railway Station at midday on 6th July – but due to Island Line not being operational on that day, the official launch has been postponed. The service still begins on 23rd July.
This community-centric initiative is a testament to the ongoing commitment of the Isle of Wight CRP and South Western Railways CCiF in enhancing the local tourism offering, while also improving the quality of life for the Island’s residents.
Article edit
12.25pm 28th Jun 2023 – Details of launch being postponed added
