As part of the forthcoming changes to the bus services on the Isle of Wight, it was announced this week that the council run WightBus Ventnor To Shanklin rail link will be axed from early September.
Stuart George of the IW Bus Users Group tells us that as part of the cost cutting, the IW council has decided to completely withdraw the rail-link bus service between Shanklin, Ventnor & St Lawrence.
The replacement buses will be service 31 from St Lawrence to Bonchurch via Castle Close.
They will run Mondays to Fridays at 09.40 & 11.20 and Ventnor (Albert Street) to St Lawrence, via the Botanic Gardens, on Mondays to Fridays at 11.10 & 12.50.
The result of this service being cancelled means that the return fare between Ventnor and Shanklin will double from £3.50 to £7.00.
Still awaiting justification from IW Council
We did contact the council for a statement as to why the service as being cut, but at time of publishing were still waiting for the promised response.
We’ll update here once we receive the response.
Bus users meeting arranged
The IW Bus Users Group will be holding a member’s meeting tomorrow in Newport.
It’s not a public meeting, but they’re always pleased to welcome new members who can join at the meeting (£1 annual subscription).
The meeting takes place at the Southern Vectis Sports & Social Club (opposite the bus station) in South Street, Newport, at 11am.
