Southern Vectis is celebrating 60 years of open-top bus services on the Isle of Wight by running a very special service this coming Bank Holiday Monday.
Locals and visitors alike will have the opportunity to travel on the famous ‘Old Girl’ bus over Southern Vectis’ original open-top bus route 11, between Ventnor and Shanklin.
Ben Bartram of Southern Vectis, who will driving the bus says:
“Summer 1956 saw the introduction of open-top buses to the Southern Vectis fleet – and we ran a pair of second-hand AEC Regent vehicles as extras on the regular route 11, to gauge interest and see if such a service could become a permanent summer attraction.
“The rest, as they say, is history. Now thousands of our customers enjoy riding our popular Breezer buses every year – and we’re very much looking forward to dusting off the ‘Old Girl’ on Bank Holiday Monday. She’s a 1939 Bristol K open-topper, registration CDL899, and is very well-known to people across the island.
“This is a great opportunity for people to experience the delightful views on offer here, from a seat on this beautiful old bus. The old Route 11, now our Route 3, will start at Shanklin Railway Station and end in Ventnor.
“We hope to take as many passengers as possible and give them as memorable an experience as those who travelled with us had all those years ago back in 1956.”
The ‘Old Girl’ will operate the route for 1 day only on Monday 29th August at the following times. Normal fares apply.
From Shanklin Railway Station at: 09:59; 11:29; 12:59; 14:59; 16:29
From Ventnor at: 10:40; 12:10; 14:10; 15:40; 17:10
For more information about the ‘Old Girl’ and Southern Vectis visit www.islandbuses.info.
