7 new double decker buses will be introduced to the Route 1 bus service later this year, it has been announced.
Southern Vectis is injecting £1.7million into the bus services it provides on the Isle of Wight with the operator set to take delivery of 7 new buses in August and September this year.
Andrew Wickham, Managing Director of Southern Vectis, says:
“These brand new British-built Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 double decker buses will provide comfort and reliability for those travelling with us.
“We are incredibly proud to be investing in these new vehicles, which will operate predominantly on route 1 between Newport and Cowes. This is good news for both commuters and leisure passengers wishing to travel here.
“Our customers have been very clear about the enhancements they want to see on the popular route 1 service, and we have listened to them. On-board features include USB charging points for smartphones and hand-held devices, as well as tap on, tap off contactless payment technology.
“These new vehicles are also equipped with the very latest low emissions, Euro 6, engines – cementing our commitment to help improve air quality across the island.
“Just one of these buses has the potential to take up to 75 cars off the road – and we’re looking forward to transporting more people than ever, when our new vehicles arrive later this year.”
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How about providing regular smaller buses on rural routes. Places like Newchurch, you have to have a car as the bus service is appalling…
Agreed.
Whilst investment in new buses is to be applauded I have to ask if that money could have been better spent elsewhere.
Their customers in some areas have been very clear about wanting any kind of service at all so why not listen to them?
USB chargers on a service that already runs far more frequently than any other route on the island is a kick in the teeth to those with limited, summer only or, in some cases, no service at all any more.
It also shows that profit, not customer need, is their main concern despite what their press release would like to suggest.
We are mistaken in considering that this is a service – it’s a business, thanks to a certain government’s deregulation and privatisation policies.
Bigger buses mean an even higher passenger-to-staff ratio, which of course could be as easily achieved by lowering fares to within affordability. But that doesn’t make as much profit.
And still people won’t vote for public ownership.
The cheek of it how about learn to drive
I’m literally not allowed due to health reasons. Not everyone can drive.
Besides, do you want 20 people in a bus or 20 more cars on the road to create traffic jams for you?
Also, what “cheek” exactly do you mean? Asking for an adequate (not even world class) public transport in “Great” Britain in 21st century?
It’s way more cheeky when drivers ask public to lend them public space to park on the roads 😉
British built, could these be the Southern Vectis version of the floating bridge. Prone to breakdown and unreliable. Let’s wait and see.
Well no. Southern Vectis already has over 50 of the exact same vehicles in its fleet which were all brand new in several batches between 2012 and 2018
Most of which have caught fire, taken off raiding or driven by 12 year olds that have a huge chip on their shoulders lol
Only the coachwork is british.
The chassis and drive trains are Swedish (Volvo or Scania). They are imported fully assembled and drivable.
They also build a fully electric double decker for London Transport which featured on the “Inside the Factory” programme. The chassis for those is imported from China, also imported fully assembled and drivable.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001b0qc/inside-the-factory-series-7-buses
Worth a watch if you can put up with Greg Wallace’s over enthusiasm for an hour.
But theses are not Scania or Volvo, they are built on ADL’s own chassis which I think you’ll find are built in the UK. The chassis for the electrics were built in China as mentioned in the BBC program, but I believe even they are being built here now.
They are the BYD electrics. There’s now a new in house E100EV and E400EV with only the E200 being BYD now.
His false loud enthusiasm and shouty-shouty demeaning of the people explaining things, only for him to repeatedly shriek it out’ as its really only all about GW and his ‘We will show you how they do it’ gobby side-kick.
Can’t tolerate either of them, which is a shame, as with other presenters could be educationally entertaining programmes- otherwise.
Unlikely, given that there are thousands of these British built buses on the road up and down the country running reliably, including a large number already in service with SV and it’s sister companies. But let’s wait and see, I’m sure it’ll brighten your day if one does break down.
Vast majority of British buses are already British built – not so ‘in the know’!!!
Chris you on the pot
You guys are great
Brace yourself for a drastic fare increase for ‘muh’ enviroment clean air tax…
They are bog-standard Euro-6 diesel busses. “Greener” than previous generations of pure fossil burners but not even close to the hybrid and full electric offerings. SV is being disingenuous about their green credentials.
Reverting to single-decker buses to access the Red Jet terminal may have been a better service improvement. Covid appears to have been used as an opportunity to force through change…
Did you ever get a bus into the red jet terminal? I’m guessing not… why should a business take a risk of damaging buses for a 2 minute walk.
And secondly buses to enter the terminal have to be 10 meters long and all buses now are 12 meters
There buses available that are shorter than 10m
Yes – Thanks. The shelter under the arcade was good. The shelter outside M&S is very small. If you are familiar, you may have noticed new (but peeling-off) stickers on the block paving up Terminus Road to guide visitors of the route from Red Jet to Bus, rather than the less steep incline past Hurst’s. Not a great connection experience for visitors. Yes – it did require skill and care manoeuvring through the arch – not sure the drivers would appreciate your implication that they were unskilled and/or careless. Finally, a quick google of the same company’s products quickly finds the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 is available in lengths of 8.9m, 9.7m, 10.4m, 10.8m and 11.5m
All buses now are not 12 metres long. Most double deckers are 10 or 11 metres, and you’d be hard pushed to get anything over 9 metres into the Red Jet terminal, under the pub arch. 9.5 metres would be seriously difficult. That’s why Southern Vectis used 9 metre long Darts before.
Nah, it’s literally like a minute of walk, and High St is full of people. I’d go the other direction and allow less cars (only disabled, move taxis elsewhere, if you managed with your luggage to board Red Jet it’s not like you can’t walk for a minute or two).
Getting in their order for diesel engine power before they are forced to buy leccy ones. Charge your phone between Cowes and Newport.who carrys a lead around with them for a 10 minute charge.
Today with fast charging you can easily get 30-50% in 10 minutes, discount outliers like Xiaomi’s 75% because they are rather niche. And charger doesn’t weigh much, I just throw it in my handbag and forget about it.
Except the USB ports on buses don’t support quick charge of any kind. I gave up charging my phone on the bus because they didn’t actually give any reasonable charge
They are using leccy busses around the world and are proving that after a day of service have around 50% charge left. And the reduced noise is a god send for people living on bus routes. Bet check your facts before making stupid comments. Also with the roof space southern vectis have they could be running their busses for free during the summer and help balance the grid at night when demand is low.
More city busses for rural roads. This is why the roads on the bus routes are so messed up.
Any brand of more “rural” bus you recommend?
Or are you more into trains? I’d support that, it’d be awesome to have biggest cities connected.
Can’t wait to get the registration numbers for my files
It won’t take any cars off the road… At least you’ve figured out that EV busses don’t work…
Unlike the über app!
Exactly. Won’t take any more cars off the road than the existing buses do. Swapping one bus for a slightly newer one makes no difference whatsoever.
Great to hear Southern Vectis are getting some new buses how about getting some new bus routes. would be a better idea to actually give residents of the Isle of Wight a much-needed better improved service
Who really cares where they were built. I didn’t realise there were so many saddo’s on the island.
We are not saddos. It’s called a hobby. Calling people for having a hobby is bullying, which people like me have put up with most of our lives. I’m sure you have a hobby of some sort.
I thought I had no money And they can still charge the kids the same price as an adult Even now it’s paid Government
Not been on a bis for over 30 years and definitely won’t start any time soon
They are worse than sitting in the doctors with the air con and sneezing coughing people
No thanks
It’s no money spent , it’s a bunch of cast.off buses from bluestar and else where , the placed they actually spent the money on … This is a bunch of guff to make the people of the island feel like they are getting value for money ….
As an aside, I was wondering if there’s any figures been released by Southern Vectis as to passenger numbers during the £2 fare cap period?
I might be wrong, but I suspect it hasn’t drawn many, or any, more customers onto the buses. Buses seem to me to be almost exclusively used by OAPs and school children, who are already catered for with cheaper or free travel.
I’m 32 and can’t drive due to health reasons so I use it whenever I go outside my town. Pretty much the only way other than a rather expensive taxi or dangerous cycling.
I’m a regular bus user, (and a great fan of all the drivers on our difficult roads,) but the new buses really should be electric. No new ICE vehicles!
£1.7m for 7 buses seems cheap. Are they really new or just new to Southern Vectis and actually just a paper transfer from another operator in the same group?