‘Scene’ on the Isle of Wight (IOW) Part 3

The IOW at one time had one of the most well developed railway networks in the country. Today it is reduced to one line running from Ryde to Shanklin with a preserved line running from Smallbrook Junction to Wootton. 

 

Like many other holiday destinations it is now largely dependent on the coach.

 

There are a number of ferry routes to the island and the first three images are taken at Gunwharf Quay in Portsmouth where they are are awaiting the ferry to Fishbourne. 

 

BK11 CPY

A Setra S416GT-HD of Shearings Holidays.

 

TCF 496

Is a Volvo B12B with Van Hool Alize bodywork.

Operated by ‘Simonds of Botesdale’ who are an East Anglian operator working in the Diss, Norwich, Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds areas. Supplying a mixture of holiday, coach charter and council services, the company is currently listed as running 52 vehicles.

 

K120 LSR

Our transport was this immaculately kept DAF SB3000 with Van Hool’s Alize bodywork belonging to long established operator Albert Wilde Coaches who are based at Heage, Derbyshire.

 

BX-778-TC

A Mercedes-Benz Tourismo seen in Shanklin. 

The operator is a company called ‘Savac Autocars of Paris’ and according to the vinyl by the door is celebrating 70 years of operation.

 

R012 MWN

This smart conversion of a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is operated by ‘Coach House Travel’ of Dorchester.

 

BK08 NJU

Another Setra 416GT-HD. This time operated by ‘Edwards Coaches’ of Llantwit Fardre in Wales.

 

L8 OAP

A Scania K340EB4 with Irizar Century bodywork working for ‘MM Coachlines’ (MMC) also seen in Portsmouth waiting for the ferry. MMC operate from the Chatham area in North Kent.

 

111 KJX

A Setra 41 HD one of the fleet run by ‘Turners Coachways’ of Bristol.

 

YJ10 DUH

A Temsa Safari HD from the fleet of ‘Nelson’s Travel’ from Neath in South Wales. 

It’s first operator was ‘Cavendish’ of Poole in Dorset.

The Safari is my experience is a rare beast. I have seen more at the NEC Bus & Coach show than I have seen on the roads.

Temsa are headquartered in Turkey but have a European office in Belgium.

 

WA10 CFY

A Volvo B12B with Van Hool Alize body owned by ‘Barnes’ of Swindon

 

M300 MHS

A Volvo B10M with Caetano Algarve bodywork from the fleet of ‘MHS Travel’ who are based in Stourport on Severn.

'Scene' on the Isle of Wight part 1

Over the years, I have visited the IOW a number of times. I recently enjoyed a five day break there and as usual, I had a look at what was on offer on the transport scene.

 

The main bus operator is ‘Southern Vectis’ (SV). A National Bus Company (NBC) subsidiary when I first visited the island and since 2005 part of the ‘Go Ahead’ (GA) group.

 

The Romans christened the IOW ‘Vectis’. The ‘Vectis Omnibus Company’ came into being in 1923 when local operator ‘Dodsons’ assumed the title.

 

In 1929, the Southern Railway bought this company and added the prefix ‘Southern’.

 

As can be expected from GA, the current fleet is equipped with modern vehicles to provide an excellent service around the island.

 

For what is basically a rural community, there are a surprising number of double deck buses in the fleet which no doubt reflects the islands success in attracting holiday visitors like myself.

 

As the map shows, the East of the Island has the biggest concentration of bus routes with services radiating out from Newport and Ryde where purpose built bus stations are found. Indeed Ryde bus station is adjacent to the railway station and the Hovercraft terminal and as such can be termed a ‘Transport interchange’. A term much loved by politicians.

 

Green was the basic livery in NBC days and this colour is still the most common however blue is coming more into use. More of

which anon!!

 

 

 

This view shows the relationship between the buses, trains and Hovercraft at Ryde. The railway line runs out to the end of the pier where it further connects with ferries to the mainland.

 

 

 

The oldest double deckers on display during my visit were 52 registration plate vehicles. 

 

YU52 XVL

 

A Scania N94UD with East Lancashire OmniDekka bodywork is one of a batch of 5 that came from fellow GA group member ‘Metrobus’ where it carried the red London livery.

 

Other 52 plate ‘deckers were from a batch of seven that were new in 1992. HW52 EPK and HW52 EPN both Volvo B7TL’s with Plaxton President bodies.

 

 

 

Later deliveries came in 2008 and 2009. These being Scania OmniCity CN270UD’s with Scania OmniCity bodies.

 

HW58 ARZ 

HW08 AOS

 

Deliveries in 2009 were of similar vehicles.

 

HW09 BAA 

 

HW09 BBU

                                                          

Retaining the colours of another SV subsidiary ‘Moss Motor Tours’. DW498 WGH is another Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL that came from GA London.

 

On all the Presidents I travelled on, the upper deck ceilings are covered in the same moquette as the seats and some retain the dual doors from their service in London.

 

 

EA05 KZC

 

A Ford Transit Tourneo service van stands in Newport bus station. Not all service vehicles make it into fleet livery. This one did.