More than half of Southern Vectis’ fleet is now fully electric following the unveiling of 31 new electric double-decker buses in Newport – with Islanders set to see them out on the roads within the next couple of weeks.
Local stakeholders joined representatives from Southern Vectis at the bus depot in Newport this morning (Friday) for a grand launch, taking a first look at the new zero-emission buses, which have been built by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland.
An investment of £10.7million from Southern Vectis, £733,000 from the Isle of Wight Council and additional funding of £5.7million from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area scheme has made the rollout possible, to a total value of more than £17million.
Gathered guests were treated to a free roam of 8 of the 31 buses set to serve the Island for the next 15-25 years, with an electric musical performance complete with fireworks and confetti. Simon Caulder, travel journalist and broadcaster, spoke at the launch.
Speaking to Island Echo about what passengers can expect, Richard Tyldsley, General Manager at Southern Vectis, has said:
“They will be quieter and smoother. There are no gears, there’s no noisy engine, so from a customer experience point of view, it’s beneficial. It’s a better environment for passengers.”
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Islanders will not have long to wait before seeing the new vehicles in service, says Richard:
“The middle of March is what we’re aiming for. Half the buses are here, some are in Southampton on the way over, and our driver training starts this Monday. The depot’s energised, we’ve got our chargers ready to go – we just need to get our drivers trained and then they’ll be out there.”
The operator’s Newport depot has been upgraded and equipped with charging infrastructure to support the new fleet, with charging of a double-decker expected to take just 3-and-a-half to 4 hours. Each bus will be able to complete a full day’s work before being recharged overnight.
Ed Wills, Southern Vectis’ Managing Director, has said the arrival of the new fleet marks a significant milestone for the Isle of Wight:
“I am delighted that Southern Vectis is now at the forefront of the nation’s sustainable transport. Buses are the perfect solution to improving air quality, and I’d urge people living here and visiting to use these new vehicles. This joint investment between DfT, Southern Vectis and Isle of Wight Council will ensure greener, better, journeys for our customers – and have a significant impact the Isle of Wight’s overall carbon emissions.”
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, chair of the Isle of Wight Council’s economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee, says the investment supports wider ambitions for the Isle of Wight:
“The arrival of these first electric buses marks an exciting and important step in our journey to modernise the Island’s transport network.
“Our partnership with Southern Vectis and the Department for Transport means Islanders will benefit from cleaner, quieter and more reliable journeys, while helping us reduce emissions and improve air quality. This investment is not just about transport – it supports our wider ambitions for regeneration, sustainability and a thriving future for the Isle of Wight.”
John McLeister, Manager Director for UK Sales at Wrightbus, has said the vehicles represent the latest generation of battery technology:
“These Gen 2 Electroliners are the most efficient battery electric buses we have ever produced, with class-leading range, charging speed and battery life.
“And because the buses have been developed and built in our UK factory in Ballymena, this fleet of buses will not only help to improve air quality across the Isle of Wight, but will also support good green jobs in the wider UK manufacturing sector.”
The new buses are expected to be operating the timetabled services across the Island from Sunday 15th March.
Very welcome newcomers to the fleet, but will the drivers still jump and down on the brakes so that passengers fall over?
Lol
What will happen to prices I wonder? More net zero BS. We scrap a clean burn coal power station while there are over a million dirty old coal burners in the world still going. Utter madness.
Spot on.
Glad I’m not poor and don’t have to use public transport
What turns me off is the numpties that do use
public transport.
Feet up in the air etc and on seats.
Nice mate, flex on people less fortunate than yourself
Isle of Wight Council face going bust, according to Cllrsc, putting our council tax up 4.99%, but have £733k kicking around to give to a private profit-driven business – Southern Vectis… Why is our money being “donated” (in brown envelopes no doubt) to private firms? Who has approved this spending? What percentage of council tax / business rates payers will this benefit? Insane.
They do what their Government bosses tell them to do
all at out expense.
Wouldn’t the country be great if all politicians and
council employees were replaced with A.I
Yes you are right, also not to mention the fact there the only option on the island, wonder why.
IW Council could be making thousands of pounds in
revenue.
The amount of vehicles parked on Double Yellow Lines
by Napoleon’s Landing in Sandown and outside the Pier
this evening was shocking!
Do Civil Enforcement Officers no longer work after 6pm
on weekends!!
Absolutely. I don’t want my hard earned money going to Southern Vectis. Disgraceful
Look forward to buses running flat in the evenings, cold, wet, dark days, in fact every day that they have to use windscreen wipers, demisters, heaters, interior lights and headlights. Not to mention what happens when one bursts into flame in the depot and takes half the fleet with it.
Lol. True!!
Havenstreet needs speed humps and speed cameras
to stop the numpties speeding.
Getting ready for the Green agenda.
Fuck the greens
Will they smell of cannabis like all of the others?
That is why I don’t use public transport, full of Numpties.
why do we need so many double deckers they are often empty,surely single level are more practical
They are always empty.
Let’s hope they are not as wide as the present ones.
Where the charging capacity coming from ? the grid? or diesel generators…
The Majority of double decker buses I see are less
than a quarter full.
I can only imagine they have invested in electric double
decker buses ready for the green agenda that’s coming.
They don’t want vehicles on the road.
Don’t let them loose on coastal routes, the weight
of them will cause more landslides.
Why is MY council tax being paid to Southern Vectis?