More people than ever have taken advantage of Christmas Day bus services on the Isle of Wight, according to Southern Vectis.
A record-breaking number of passengers – an increase of 16% on last year – travelled with the bus operator, which is one of the only in the UK to offer services on 25th December.
Richard Tyldsley, General Manager of Southern Vectis, says:
“We’re thrilled with the response we’ve had – with thousands journeying with us here.
“In the UK, it is still unusual for buses to run on Christmas Day – and we are confident that we run the nation’s most extensive network. It’s wonderful that so many people have made use of sustainable travel.
“We appreciate that local people rely on our buses to see family – whether that means visiting them in their homes, or perhaps in hospital. Without them, many across the Island may feel isolated. In view of that, we ran our 1,3,5,7 and 9 routes to a special timetable.
“Our Christmas Day services, run with paid volunteer drivers, are provided without extra financial support from local authorities or Government, so it is very important that people use them.
“I’m delighted by the success we have seen here, and would encourage those who left their cars at home at Christmas to journey with us for the first time, to do so again during the rest of the year. Bus travel is the perfect solution to reducing congestion and improving air quality – and we’re proud to be making services more accessible here.”
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Well done and thank you to all the staff that worked on Christmas day