Island Breezers
Encyclopedia
Island Breezers is the brand name given to the open top bus services run by Southern Vectis
Southern Vectis
The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited is the dominant bus operator on the Isle of Wight. It was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in 2005 and is a part of the company's Go South Coast division. The firm employs 299 staff, with 105 single deck, double deck and open-top buses and coaches...
, which is the main bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
operator on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
.
The Island Breezers name and livery was developed in 2007, to replace the previous "Orange & Yellow" livery.
They run three services, and these run during the summer months, usually between early April and September/October. All of the open top tours follow a circular route, they only operated in a specific direction as stated as below . As shown in the 2008 bus timetable, all routes which are open top were rebranded as "Breezer", instead of "tour".
From 15 May 2009, following changes to the guidelines by the Government about concessionary fares, It was announced that the Isle of Wight Council
Isle of Wight Council
The Isle of Wight Council is a local council. It is a unitary authority covering the Isle of Wight, South East England. It is currently made up of 40 seats, with the Conservatives as ruling party with 24 councillors at the latest local election in June 2009....
would no longer be supporting over 60s or Student Rider travel on Open Top Tour Services. Because the Open Top Tours were used more often used by island residents as an essential service, methods are being explored to reinstate free travel.
The Needles Tour
Current service
YarmouthYarmouth, Isle of Wight
Yarmouth is a port and civil parish in the western part of the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of mainland England. The town is named for its location at the mouth of the small Western Yar river...
– Freshwater
Freshwater, Isle of Wight
Freshwater is a large village and civil parish at the western end of the Isle of Wight, England. Freshwater Bay is a small cove on the south coast of the Island which also gives its name to the nearby part of Freshwater....
Bay – Alum Bay
Alum Bay
Alum Bay is a bay near the westernmost point of the Isle of Wight, England, within sight of the Needles. Of geological interest and a tourist attraction, the bay is noted for its multi-coloured sand cliffs.-Geology:...
– The Needles
The Needles
The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, England, close to Alum Bay. The Needles lighthouse stands at the end of the formation...
– Alum Bay
Alum Bay
Alum Bay is a bay near the westernmost point of the Isle of Wight, England, within sight of the Needles. Of geological interest and a tourist attraction, the bay is noted for its multi-coloured sand cliffs.-Geology:...
– Yarmouth
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
Yarmouth is a port and civil parish in the western part of the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of mainland England. The town is named for its location at the mouth of the small Western Yar river...
.
Connector routes
Two connector services were run to the The Needles Tour in order to position the bus from the depot for the day’s service. The old route numbers were used for these. However for the Summer 2009 season, they were dropped from the timetable and buses to and from Yarmouth bus stationYarmouth bus station
Yarmouth Bus Station is a facility for buses and coaches to wait for passengers in the town of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. It is conveniently located next to the Lymington ferry terminal allowing passengers arriving from and departing for the UK's mainland to transfer from one mode of transport...
will run empty.
- 46: NewportNewport, Isle of WightNewport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
– CalbourneCalbourneCalbourne is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. It is located eight kilometres from Newport in the west of the island.The village takes its name from the stream that passes through town, the Caul Bourne...
– Alum BayAlum BayAlum Bay is a bay near the westernmost point of the Isle of Wight, England, within sight of the Needles. Of geological interest and a tourist attraction, the bay is noted for its multi-coloured sand cliffs.-Geology:... - 47: NewportNewport, Isle of WightNewport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
– Thorness BayThorness BayThorness Bay is a 86.2 hectare Site of special scientific interest which is located on the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight, England, in the western arm of the Solent...
– YarmouthYarmouth, Isle of WightYarmouth is a port and civil parish in the western part of the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of mainland England. The town is named for its location at the mouth of the small Western Yar river...
From April in the 2011 season, new connector route 21 was introduced, following the route of the old 46. This was after the buses running the tour started to run from Newport depot again (rather than Wellow outstation). Two return journeys are offered. While it reintroduced a Southern Vectis service to Newbridge, it offers only travel towards Yarmouth in the morning and Newport in the afternoon, which is the wrong way around for the majority of travel needs.
History
The Needles Tour is renowned for running along the steep cliff road to The NeedlesThe Needles
The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, England, close to Alum Bay. The Needles lighthouse stands at the end of the formation...
Old Battery; as Southern Vectis have exclusive rights for the use of the stretch of road. The original route number was for the "Needles Tour" was 42, the only major changes on the route have been the replacement of open-platformed rear-boarding vehicles with front entry enclosed ones in the late 1990s, and the changing of the route from a normal there-and-back route to a circular service in the early part of 2000.
The route 46 connector originated as part of the old Southern Vectis bus network; service 7B included one open top journey from Ryde
Ryde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
to Totland
Totland
Totland is a village and civil parish at the western tip of the Isle of Wight. It lies on the coast at Colwell Bay, which is the closest part of the island to the British mainland...
, where it continued as The Needles Tour. Service 7A included an open top journey from Yarmouth (as the last Needles Tour of the day) to Newport. The route was diverted to run via Calbourne and Chessell in both directions in 2006 and was separated as the 46. Service 47 has not varied much, although since 2005 it has not served Newtown itself due to a new bridge restriction.
For the 2009 season, the route stopped serving Fort Victoria. The decision not to serve the fort was made to save time with increased traffic on the road, concerns were raised about the decision as businesses were losing trade in the fort.
The Sandown Bay Tour
Current service
Sandown PierSandown Pier
-History:Plans had first been discussed for a pier at Sandown in the early 1860s, although construction of the pier did not take place until 1876. Due to financial difficulties a further three years passed until the pier was open to the public...
– Dinosaur Isle
Dinosaur Isle
Dinosaur Isle is a purpose-built dinosaur museum located on the Isle of Wight in southern England.The museum was designed by Isle of Wight architects Rainey Petrie Johns in the shape of a giant pterosaur. It claims to be the first custom-built dinosaur museum in Europe...
– Sandown
Sandown
Sandown is a seaside resort town and civil parish on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight, England, neighbouring the town of Shanklin to the south. Sandown Bay is the name of the bay off the English Channel which both towns share, and it is notable for its long stretch of easily accessible...
Town centre – Lake
Lake, Isle of Wight
Lake is a village and civil parish located on Sandown Bay, on the Isle of Wight, England.Lake is named after the Old English "Lacu" referring to the creek that ran along what is now Scotchells Brook, which is between the Isle of Wight Airport and the Morrisons Superstore and the Spithead Industrial...
– Shanklin
Shanklin
Shanklin is a popular seaside resort and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, England, located on the east coast's Sandown Bay. The sandy beach, its Old Village and a wooded ravine, Shanklin Chine, are its main attractions. The esplanade along the beach is occupied by hotels and restaurants for the...
Town – Esplanade – Old Village – Shanklin Town – Lake – Sandown.
History
The Sandown Bay Tour originated as service 44, during this time it was operated by an open top single decker named "Shanklin's Pony". The service was later changed to operate Shanklin to Sandown via a different road to that on which it returns, with the route number of 43; whereas it previously operated there and back with only a small loop in Shanklin to take in the Old Village. During its first year it operated under a trading name called "Village Bus Company" which was owned by Southern Vectis.After the renumbering of the Downs Tour to 41, the 44 number was re-instated to become a once-a-day connector route from the depot at Ryde, serving Brading, Yaverland and Sandown to continue at the Sandown Bay Tour, similar to the Needles Tour connector routes. Standard bus service 12
Southern Vectis route 12
Southern Vectis route 12 is a bus service operated by Southern Vectis between Newport and Totland via Shorwell, Brighstone and Freshwater.- West Wight Route :...
included an open top journey, was renumbered 45 and separated in 2005. With the start of the Easter 2008 service, both connectors were dropped; buses now run empty to and from the depot.
From that timetable, the service was increased to run every 15 minutes. However, the service has now reverted to a frequency of 30 minutes now from the summer timetable in May, as part of the funding cuts made by the Isle of Wight Council on concessionary fares paid to Southern Vectis. Despite the decrease in frequency, the Sandown Bay Tour was one of the most popular in Summer 2008 experiencing large increases in passenger numbers.
From 28 September 2008, all other open-top services ended until at least March 2009, however the Sandown Bay Tour continued to run an hourly service daily throughout the winter, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day. However this has not continued as a result of the withdrawal of funding as mentioned above, and in 2009 the route ran during the summer only.
The Downs Tour
Current service
RydeRyde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
– Arreton
Arreton
Arreton is a village and civil parish in the central eastern part of the Isle of Wight, England. It is about 3 miles south east of Newport.-Name:The settlement has had different names and different spellings over the years...
– Newchurch
Newchurch, Isle of Wight
Newchurch is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. It is located between Sandown and Newport in the southeast of the island. Anthony Dillington, owner of the Knighton Gorges Manor in Newchurch wrote to his son Robert in 1574 that, "This is the very Garden of England, and we be privileged...
– Ashey
Ashey, Isle of Wight
Ashey is a hamlet on the outskirts of Ryde on the Isle of Wight in southern England.Ashey is the site every year of an amateur horse race known as the "Isle of Wight Grand National and Ashey Scurry". There are four races that include jumping over fences. It is open to horses and ponies of all sizes...
– Ryde
Ryde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
History
The Downs Tour was a route originally operated by Westbrook Travel as service 88, and after major changes were made to the route as service 44. Southern Vectis took over the route in 2002, and re-numbered it the 41, leaving the number 44 available for the connector to the Sandown Bay Tour. Southern Vectis rerouted the service to call at more tourist attractions to increase custom; however the route was diverted away from the road that most locals call the downs, which offers the best views. Standard bus service 10Southern Vectis route 10
Southern Vectis route 10 was a bus service operated on the Isle of Wight by Southern Vectis between Newport and Sandown. It also ran via Brading, St Helens, Bembridge, Whitecliff Bay and Yaverland. The general daytime frequency of the route was every hour in each direction...
did, however, continue serve that road whilst in operation, but has now been withdrawn. From the beginning of the 2008 service, there was a re-routing on the approach to Ryde.
Past service
Newport Bus StationNewport (Isle of Wight) bus station
Newport bus station, on the Isle of Wight is located at Orchard Street in Newport town centre. Recent redevelopment has seen the former 1960s-built South Street bus station demolished, to make way for a new row of shops, and the current facility built behind that site...
– Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle is a historic motte-and-bailey castle located in the village of Carisbrooke, near Newport, Isle of Wight, England. Charles I was imprisoned at the castle in the months prior to his trial.-Early history:...
– Newport High Street
Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
– Whippingham Church
St. Mildred's Church, Whippingham
St. Mildred's Church, Whippingham is a parish church in the Church of England located in Whippingham, Isle of Wight.-History:The chancel of the church was built in 1854 and 1855 by the architect Albert Jenkins Humbert although Prince Albert is thought to have had a guiding hand.The remainder of the...
– East Cowes
East Cowes
East Cowes is a town and civil parish to the north of the Isle of Wight, on the east bank of the River Medina next to its neighbour on the west bank, Cowes....
Red Funnel Ferry
Red Funnel
The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited, which trades as Red Funnel, is a ferry company that carries passengers and vehicles on routes between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight...
– Osborne House
Osborne House
Osborne House is a former royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK. The house was built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a summer home and rural retreat....
– Wootton, Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Isle of Wight Steam Railway
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is a heritage railway on the Isle of Wight. The railway passes through 5½ miles of unspoiled countryside from to station, passing through the small village of Havenstreet, where the line has a station, headquarters and a depot...
Station – Robin Hill – Newport Bus Station
Newport (Isle of Wight) bus station
Newport bus station, on the Isle of Wight is located at Orchard Street in Newport town centre. Recent redevelopment has seen the former 1960s-built South Street bus station demolished, to make way for a new row of shops, and the current facility built behind that site...
History
The Medina tour was a relatively new route, started in 2007; as such, it never had a route number. Changes were made in 2008 so that the route served Newport bus station on the way back from Carisbrooke Castle as well as on the way there. For 2009 the tour was revised, with Carisbrooke Castle served last. It also travelled via Butterfly World instead of Robin Hill. However during 2009 passenger numbers dropped and the route was stopped in 2010.Fleet
The Open Top routes are currently being operated by two Leyland OlympianLeyland Olympian
The Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
/Northern Counties Palatine I
Northern Counties Palatine
The Northern Counties Palatine is a step-entrance double-decker bus body built by Northern Counties of Wigan, UK. It was built mainly on Leyland Olympian and Volvo Olympian chassis, although some were also built on DAF, Volvo B10M Citybus and Scania chassis...
, five Volvo Olympian
Volvo Olympian
The Volvo Olympian was a rear-engine double decker bus built by Volvo at Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It was first built in 1992 and entered production in March 1993, replacing the Leyland Olympian....
/Northern Counties Palatine I
Northern Counties Palatine
The Northern Counties Palatine is a step-entrance double-decker bus body built by Northern Counties of Wigan, UK. It was built mainly on Leyland Olympian and Volvo Olympian chassis, although some were also built on DAF, Volvo B10M Citybus and Scania chassis...
, and a DAF DB250/Northern Counties Palatine 2
Northern Counties Palatine
The Northern Counties Palatine is a step-entrance double-decker bus body built by Northern Counties of Wigan, UK. It was built mainly on Leyland Olympian and Volvo Olympian chassis, although some were also built on DAF, Volvo B10M Citybus and Scania chassis...
. The five Volvo Olympians came from fellow Go South Coast
Go South Coast
Go South Coast is a bus operator in the south of England, owned by the Go-Ahead Group. It was established in late 2005, after Go-Ahead purchased Southern Vectis and its subsidiary Solent Blue Line, and combined its operations with existing subsidiary Wilts & Dorset.It is based in Poole, at the...
company Solent Blue Line
Solent Blue Line
Solent Blue Line Ltd formerly Musterphantom Ltd is a bus company which operates buses in Hampshire, England under the names Bluestar and Uni-link. The company was taken over along with its parent, Southern Vectis in 2005 by The Go-Ahead Group. From 25 February 2008, all previous Solent Blue Line...
. The vehicles were converted to open top by Southern Vectis at some point and repainted in the Bright Blue & Orange Colour Scheme. The DAF which is used in the fleet was the bus that overturned with Wilts & Dorset
Wilts & Dorset
Wilts & Dorset is a bus company in England covering Poole, Bournemouth, East Dorset, South Wiltshire and West Hampshire. Its local headquarters is in Poole, but it is owned by the Go-Ahead Group, a major UK transport group....
in an accident in 2008, this was repaired for use on the island.
Criticism
On some occasions, during the winter timetable when they are not being used for open top tours, the buses have been used on regular services. They have also appeared on School services, with some criticism for this.See also
- Transportation on the Isle of WightTransportation on the Isle of WightThe Isle of Wight is located off the coast of the English mainland, resulting in a ferry being the easiest method of getting there. There is also a comprehensive bus network linking island towns and villages running along the Island's of road.-Sea:...
- List of bus operators of the United Kingdom