Southern Vectis route 7
Encyclopedia
Southern Vectis route 7 is a bus service operated by Southern Vectis
between Newport
and Alum Bay
via Yarmouth
, Freshwater
and Totland
. The general daytime frequency of the route is every hour each direction. There has been significant local concern over the withdrawal of route 7 from some villages in September 2010. Double-decker bus
es are normally used to operate the route.
to Alum Bay routes were extended, through mergers with other routes, to form a circuit around the Island.
The full Island Explorer route was from Ryde bus station to Shanklin
mainly on the A3055 road
, then via Wroxall
to Ventnor
and from there to Blackgang
. From 1993-95 the Ryde to Shanklin section ran via Bembridge
rather than on the A3055. After Blackgang, buses ran to Freshwater Bay
, Totland and Alum Bay. From there the route returned to Totland, then ran on to Yarmouth
, Newport and back to Ryde via Havenstreet
.
A service ran both ways around the loop, with full circular services running every hour in summer and every two hours in winter. There were additional services, also numbered 7 and 7A, which only ran part of the route. Thedifference between service 7 and service 7A was the route taken between Newport and Yarmouth; route 7 serving Shalfleet and service 7A routed via Calbourne
, Newbridge
and Wellow
.
Briefly in the mid 1990s and from January 2001, a service operated on the route in the interim known as service 12
and part of service 6
between Shanklin and Ventnor. It was numbered 7B and added to the Explorer group. This never provided a round-the-island service, and so it is questionable whether the branding was appropriate. However, the change revived a link which existed up to 1992 through service 1B (and in the 1960s by service 28) with buses running from Totland, via Freshwater Bay and Brighstone
, to Newport and Ryde. With the former service 6 dropped north of Ventnor, services from Ryde to Ventnor via Shanklin and Bonchurch
were also numbered 7B at this point, and although some through services were run, the two sections seemed to run as separate routes. Service 7B did not continue south of Ventnor, and from 2003 ran on as service 3 through Wroxall to Newport, thus prefiguring the current through running of route 3 from Ryde to Newport via Ventnor.
The main 7/7A service between Ryde and Newport was also re-routed via Staplers at this time - partly because resurfacing work on the road through Havenstreet had raised the surface under the steam railway
bridge to the extent that double decker buses could not reliably pass underneath.
On reaching Alum Bay all buses then returned to Newport (in the same clockwise/anticlockwise direction) via the other half of the route.
An hourly service was operated in each direction; Brighstone and Yarmouth were served by one bus per hour to Newport, Totland, Alum Bay and Carisbrooke by two. Generally, services via Yarmouth alternated between the Shalfleet and Calbourne branches, so each received only one bus every two hours. Alum Bay was only served between 09:00 and 18:00 daily. Outside of these times, buses turned around at Totland. All but two journeys completed a circuit of West Wight.
When the revised route 7 began operation Newport bus station
was in the process of being redeveloped, and so along with most of Southern Vectis' other routes, it operated from Newport's temporary Litten Park bus stands. The route remained relatively unchanged between April 2006 and its withdrawal and September 2010, but a route change around Freshwater did occur in September 2009 which involved buses using Pixley Hill to travel between Freshwater and Yarmouth. This road had previously been used by route 11
, causing controversy among local residents. Despite the fact that buses were not timetabled to meet each other along the route, when route 7 was diverted to use the road, complaints still arose.
Despite improvements in the level of service to the West Wight provided by this version of route 7 compared to levels pre-2006, bus provision to the area was often criticised for failing to meet demand by local residents. Connections for ferry travel from Yarmouth have also been brought up as a problem, particularly with early morning sailings.
Due to reductions in payments to Southern Vectis from the Isle of Wight Council for supporting rural bus services, all journeys on the most southerly branch of route 7 serving Brighstone, Brook and Freshwater Bay were withdrawn and replaced by a new service 12
. This only runs every two hours with no evening service. The change also left residents of Calbourne, Newbridge
and Bouldnor
with no regular bus service at all, as the remaining 2 variations were combined, cutting these communities off. An attempt has been made to compensate for this by Isle of Wight Council
-run Wightbus
, but this is viewed by some as inadequate.
Today's route 7 travels between Newport and Alum Bay (daytime) or Totland (early morning and evening) in an indirect fashion. There are no variations in the route except for school requirements. On leaving Newport bus station, all buses travel to Carisbrooke before turning north at the Waverley Inn roundabout through Gunville. After that the route passes through Shalfleet, before turning south again to reach Thorley and Wellow to the West. Yarmouth, to the north-west of Wellow, is the next destination, then buses travel south down Pixley Hill to Freshwater before turning North-West again to reach Colwell Bay and finally heading South to Totland and Alum Bay.
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...
between Newport
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...
and 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:...
via 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...
, Freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
and 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...
. The general daytime frequency of the route is every hour each direction. There has been significant local concern over the withdrawal of route 7 from some villages in September 2010. Double-decker bus
Double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
es are normally used to operate the route.
Island Explorer 1993-2006
Until April 2006, the route number 7, and its associated 7A and 7B numbers, were used to flag buses providing services on the Island Explorer (or Explorer) route, a circular service around the whole Island. This route was started in the 1993 when the 7 and 7A 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...
to Alum Bay routes were extended, through mergers with other routes, to form a circuit around the Island.
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...
mainly on the A3055 road
A3055 road
The A3055 is an A-Class Road on the Isle of Wight in Southern England. It forms the Southern portion of the circular around-the-Island A-class loop, the northern section being the A3054...
, then via Wroxall
Wroxall, Isle of Wight
Wroxall is a village and civil parish in the central south of the Isle of Wight.It is close to Appuldurcombe House. The parish church is St. John's Church, Wroxall....
to Ventnor
Ventnor
Ventnor is a seaside resort and civil parish established in the Victorian era on the south coast of the Isle of Wight, England. It lies underneath St Boniface Down , and is built on steep slopes and cliffs leading down to the sea...
and from there to Blackgang
Blackgang
Blackgang is a village on the south coast of the Isle of Wight. It is best known as the location of the Blackgang Chine amusement park which sits to the south of St Catherine's Down....
. From 1993-95 the Ryde to Shanklin section ran via Bembridge
Bembridge
Bembridge is an affluent village and civil parish located on the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight. It had a population of 3,848 according to the 2001 census of the United Kingdom, leading to claims by residents that Bembridge is the largest village in England, and occasional claims that it is...
rather than on the A3055. After Blackgang, buses ran to Freshwater Bay
Freshwater Bay
Freshwater Bay can refer to:*The cove on the south coast of the Isle of Wight, England: see Freshwater, Isle of Wight*The bay in Newfoundland, Canada: see Freshwater Bay, Newfoundland*Freshwater Bay, Barbados*Freshwater Bay...
, Totland and Alum Bay. From there the route returned to Totland, then ran on to Yarmouth
Yarmouth 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...
, Newport and back to Ryde via Havenstreet
Havenstreet
Havenstreet is a village on the Isle of Wight, located about 2 miles southwest of Ryde.The Isle of Wight Steam Railway Museum is in Havenstreet, along with a station. Every year, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway runs a "Santa Express" train from Wootton to Havenstreet, which is a centre of...
.
A service ran both ways around the loop, with full circular services running every hour in summer and every two hours in winter. There were additional services, also numbered 7 and 7A, which only ran part of the route. Thedifference between service 7 and service 7A was the route taken between Newport and Yarmouth; route 7 serving Shalfleet and service 7A routed via Calbourne
Calbourne
Calbourne 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...
, Newbridge
Newbridge, Isle of Wight
Newbridge is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight. It is situated on a small hill, nine kilometres to the west of Newport on the western half of the island. The village has a social club, situated in the old school house, and a holiday park with indoor and outdoor swimming pools and the villages only...
and Wellow
Wellow, Isle of Wight
Wellow is a village on the Isle of Wight. It is located about two miles east of Yarmouth in the northwest of the island. The name is believed to be of Jutish origin. Recently a proposal to erect a wind farm was rejected after a high profile protest campaign. Located within Wellow are a small...
.
Briefly in the mid 1990s and from January 2001, a service operated on the route in the interim known as 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 :...
and part of service 6
Southern Vectis route 6
Southern Vectis route 6 is a bus service operated on the Isle of Wight by Southern Vectis between Newport, Blackgang and Ventnor. It also runs via Carisbrooke, Chillerton, Chale Green, Chale, Niton, St Lawrence and Whitwell. Five journeys are made in each direction Monday to Saturday, with four on...
between Shanklin and Ventnor. It was numbered 7B and added to the Explorer group. This never provided a round-the-island service, and so it is questionable whether the branding was appropriate. However, the change revived a link which existed up to 1992 through service 1B (and in the 1960s by service 28) with buses running from Totland, via Freshwater Bay and Brighstone
Brighstone
Brighstone is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, 6 miles southwest of Newport on the B3399 road. Brighstone was previously known as "Brixton"...
, to Newport and Ryde. With the former service 6 dropped north of Ventnor, services from Ryde to Ventnor via Shanklin and Bonchurch
Bonchurch
Bonchurch is a small village to the East of Ventnor, on the southern part of theIsle of Wight, England. It is situated on The Undercliff, which itself is subject to regular landslips. A large section of the settlement is found in Upper Bonchurch, halfway up St Boniface Down on the main A3055 road...
were also numbered 7B at this point, and although some through services were run, the two sections seemed to run as separate routes. Service 7B did not continue south of Ventnor, and from 2003 ran on as service 3 through Wroxall to Newport, thus prefiguring the current through running of route 3 from Ryde to Newport via Ventnor.
The main 7/7A service between Ryde and Newport was also re-routed via Staplers at this time - partly because resurfacing work on the road through Havenstreet had raised the surface under the 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...
bridge to the extent that double decker buses could not reliably pass underneath.
West Wight Circular 2006-2010
Southern Vectis completely recast their network for the Summer 2006 timetable, and most bus routes saw major changes or were entirely replaced. From 1 April 2006, the new route 7 continued with most of the Explorer services west of Newport, except those along the Military Road east of Brook (towards Blackgang), which was initially left without any bus service - re-introduced in 2007 as the Island Coaster. All other sections of the Explorer routes were assigned new route numbers. The 2006 route 7 was perhaps best described as a circular service with some variations. The suffixes -A and -B, for journeys via Calbourne and Brighstone respectively, were dropped in March 2006 and were not reinstated: All buses on the route operated as service 7, irrespective of the variation they served.- On leaving Newport bus station, all buses initially followed the same route to CarisbrookeCarisbrookeCarisbrooke is a village on the south western outskirts of Newport, Isle of Wight. It is best known as the site of Carisbrooke Castle. It also has a medieval parish church. St. Mary's Church , began life as part of a Benedictine priory, established by French monks about 1150...
. At the Waverley Inn roundabout the route split, with one variation turning to the north, one continuing west and the other proceeding south-west.
- All buses travelling clockwiseClockwiseCircular motion can occur in two possible directions. A clockwise motion is one that proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top...
turned to the south-west and passed through the rest of Carisbrooke, then served ShorwellShorwellShorwell is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. It is located six kilometres from Newport in the southwest of the island. Shorwell was one of Queen Victoria's favourite places to visit on the Isle of Wight.-History:...
, BrighstoneBrighstoneBrighstone is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, 6 miles southwest of Newport on the B3399 road. Brighstone was previously known as "Brixton"...
and BrookBrook, Isle of Wight-Background:It is situated on the south west coast of the Island between Brighstone and Freshwater, and borders a section of rugged coastline , the Back of the Wight, facing into the English Channel and towards the famous Needles and west Wight cliffs....
before joining the A3055 roadA3055 roadThe A3055 is an A-Class Road on the Isle of Wight in Southern England. It forms the Southern portion of the circular around-the-Island A-class loop, the northern section being the A3054...
to Freshwater BayFreshwater BayFreshwater Bay can refer to:*The cove on the south coast of the Isle of Wight, England: see Freshwater, Isle of Wight*The bay in Newfoundland, Canada: see Freshwater Bay, Newfoundland*Freshwater Bay, Barbados*Freshwater Bay...
, where the route continued on local roads to FreshwaterFreshwaterFresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
, then to TotlandTotlandTotland 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...
and 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:...
. - Services in the anticlockwise direction took one of these two variations
-
-
- Northern variation passed through GunvilleGunvilleGunville is a settlement on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England.The village lies south of the A3054 road, near to the larger settlement of Carisbrooke. Gunville is approximately west of Newport. The name comes from Victorian times when the area was used to store ammunition, and the...
then turned to the west to serve ShalfleetShalfleetShalfleet is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. it is located between Yarmouth and Newport in the northwest of the island.-Background:...
. - Middle variation passed through 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...
then turned to the north-west to serve ThorleyThorley, Isle of WightThorley is a village on the Isle of Wight. It is located two kilometres from Yarmouth in the northwest of the island. Public transport is provided by buses on Southern Vectis route 7 and the Needles Tour.-See also:*St. Swithun's Church, Thorley...
and WellowWellow, Isle of WightWellow is a village on the Isle of Wight. It is located about two miles east of Yarmouth in the northwest of the island. The name is believed to be of Jutish origin. Recently a proposal to erect a wind farm was rejected after a high profile protest campaign. Located within Wellow are a small...
.- Both then served 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...
, TotlandTotlandTotland 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...
and 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:...
.
- Both then served Yarmouth
- Northern variation passed through Gunville
-
On reaching Alum Bay all buses then returned to Newport (in the same clockwise/anticlockwise direction) via the other half of the route.
An hourly service was operated in each direction; Brighstone and Yarmouth were served by one bus per hour to Newport, Totland, Alum Bay and Carisbrooke by two. Generally, services via Yarmouth alternated between the Shalfleet and Calbourne branches, so each received only one bus every two hours. Alum Bay was only served between 09:00 and 18:00 daily. Outside of these times, buses turned around at Totland. All but two journeys completed a circuit of West Wight.
When the revised route 7 began operation 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...
was in the process of being redeveloped, and so along with most of Southern Vectis' other routes, it operated from Newport's temporary Litten Park bus stands. The route remained relatively unchanged between April 2006 and its withdrawal and September 2010, but a route change around Freshwater did occur in September 2009 which involved buses using Pixley Hill to travel between Freshwater and Yarmouth. This road had previously been used by route 11
Southern Vectis route 11
Southern Vectis route 11 was a bus service on the Isle of Wight operated by Southern Vectis between Newport and Yarmouth via Carisbrooke, Calbourne, Chessell, Freshwater and Totland. The general daytime frequency of the route was hourly in each direction...
, causing controversy among local residents. Despite the fact that buses were not timetabled to meet each other along the route, when route 7 was diverted to use the road, complaints still arose.
Despite improvements in the level of service to the West Wight provided by this version of route 7 compared to levels pre-2006, bus provision to the area was often criticised for failing to meet demand by local residents. Connections for ferry travel from Yarmouth have also been brought up as a problem, particularly with early morning sailings.
Current Route
The route as of 5 September 2010 saw further major changes. There are now no regular route variations and the service no longer runs on a circular route.Due to reductions in payments to Southern Vectis from the Isle of Wight Council for supporting rural bus services, all journeys on the most southerly branch of route 7 serving Brighstone, Brook and Freshwater Bay were withdrawn and replaced by a new 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 :...
. This only runs every two hours with no evening service. The change also left residents of Calbourne, Newbridge
Newbridge, Isle of Wight
Newbridge is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight. It is situated on a small hill, nine kilometres to the west of Newport on the western half of the island. The village has a social club, situated in the old school house, and a holiday park with indoor and outdoor swimming pools and the villages only...
and Bouldnor
Bouldnor, Isle of Wight
Bouldnor is a hamlet near Yarmouth on the west coast of the Isle of Wight in southern England. It is the location of Bouldnor Battery, a gun battery emplacement....
with no regular bus service at all, as the remaining 2 variations were combined, cutting these communities off. An attempt has been made to compensate for this by 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....
-run Wightbus
Wightbus
Not to be confused with Wrightbus, the bus manufacturerWightbus was a bus operator on the Isle of Wight, owned by the Isle of Wight Council...
, but this is viewed by some as inadequate.
Today's route 7 travels between Newport and Alum Bay (daytime) or Totland (early morning and evening) in an indirect fashion. There are no variations in the route except for school requirements. On leaving Newport bus station, all buses travel to Carisbrooke before turning north at the Waverley Inn roundabout through Gunville. After that the route passes through Shalfleet, before turning south again to reach Thorley and Wellow to the West. Yarmouth, to the north-west of Wellow, is the next destination, then buses travel south down Pixley Hill to Freshwater before turning North-West again to reach Colwell Bay and finally heading South to Totland and Alum Bay.
Services
Alum Bay is only served between 09:00 and 18:00 daily. Outside of these times, buses turn around at Totland. The frequency is generally hourly all day.See also
- List of Southern Vectis bus routes
- 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:...
External links
- Southern Vectis website - islandbuses.info
- Southern Vectis route list
- Southern Vectis route 7
- Full Timetable