A brand new bus route linking Newport and Ryde and a major overhaul of services around Newport are among the changes being introduced by Southern Vectis when its winter timetable comes into force this Sunday.
The Island’s bus operator will introduce its new timetable from tomorrow (Sunday 27th September), with the schedule remaining in place until the end of May 2027.
Among the biggest changes is the introduction of Route 33, which will connect Newport and Ryde via Havenstreet and Haylands.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the Isle of Wight Council announced the new service back in August, where it was said that revived Route 33 service buses are expected to carry the first of the new route’s passengers through often forgotten spots of Havenstreet Steam Railway, The White Hart Inn and Haylands Primary School from 28th September onwards.
The new service means Havenstreet residents will see the return of a regular bus service through the village for the first time since the previous Route 33 service was permanently withdrawn 11 years ago.
The Service will operate in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council through the Bus Service Improvement Plan and will run 7 days a week, 364 days a year.
There will be 3 return journeys on Monday to Friday during school term time, increasing to 5 return journeys at weekends, during school holidays and on public holidays.
Route 38 is also receiving a major upgrade in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council.
The revised route will serve Sylvan Drive, Carisbrooke College, Fieldfare Road, Carisbrooke Retail Park, Carisbrooke High Street and Whitepit Lane before serving Newport Bus Station as reported by Island Echo. It will also provide links to ASDA, the new St George’s Retail Park and housing around Godric Road.
Earlier morning buses are being introduced for commuters, with buses running every 30 minutes during the day alongside new evening services. An hourly Sunday service will cover the full new Route 38.
Southern Vectis says the changes will create new links across Newport, providing easier access to ASDA, Carisbrooke Retail Park, the new St George’s Retail Park, Sainsbury’s and Newport Bus Station for onward connections.
Passengers who currently catch buses from Hinton Road, Westmill Road or Medina Avenue should use Route 39 instead.
The Route 39 will continue serving Barton, Atkinson Drive, Pan, ASDA and the new St George’s Retail Park before travelling via Medina Avenue to Newport Bus Station, then going on to Carisbrooke High Street, Carisbrooke Retail Park and Fieldfare Road.
Despite the route now catering to a larger patch of Island residents, those who are looking to get from Pan to Riverway or Hunnyhill will no longer be able to rely on the Route 39 Service, with these stops removed for the timetable.
The changes will create new direct links between Barton, Atkinson Drive, Sainsbury’s and Carisbrooke Retail Park.
Routes 2 and 3 will return to their winter timetables, with adjustments aimed at improving reliability, with daytime buses leaving Ryde on both routes set to depart 5 minutes later on all days.
Minor timetable changes are also being made to Route 6 to improve reliability. Alongside this, the 07:49 service from Whitwell to Newport and all journeys after 18:55 from Monday to Saturday will no longer serve Blackgang Chine.
There are no timetable changes to Routes 7, 8 or 9, although some bus stop information is changing.
Following the closure of West Wight Alpacas, the main Route 7 stop in Wellow will now be at Millennium Green.
For Routes 8 and 9, the main stop in Staplers is being renamed from Long Lane to Mayfield Drive.
There are no changes to Routes 1, 4, 5, 12, 22, 24, 32 or 37.
The Needles Breezer will return to its winter timetable until 1st November, before stopping for the winter and returning again in spring 2027.
Meanwhile, the Downs Breezer, Island Coaster, Shanklin Shuttle and Summer Links will finish for the summer season on 26th September.
Southern Vectis is advising passengers to check the updated timetables before travelling, with real-time bus information and journey planning also available through the operator’s mobile app.
