Vectis Blue operations

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

Not an IOW expert, but did Vectis Blue E400 1523 from Ryde Bus Museum to Brading at the Beer & Buses weekend as I needed it for haulage/the red pen. The only one I've done so all the others yet to do! I take it this will be rather difficult as I assume they do contract and school work only? I've never seen one on a normal Southern Vectis bus route.

Otherwise do they do Rail Replacent Work (if that happens now and again?) or is it very rare to do any of the blue fleet?


James.

 

[gka472l]

A question I'm also interested in as I'm off to the IOW in just over a week for a couple of days....seems they do see some use in summer on one of the 'Breezer' routes and the Shanklin Shuttle....quite surprising for a rather youthful fleet to be confined to schools.....it's half term when I'm there so am expecting some to be parked up in Ryde by the bus museum, presumably some at Newport depot?? Unless they might see use that week on the odd normal service??

 

[43055]

The island breezer uses the E400's. I think I have seen some of the smaller Solo's on the less frequent routes such as the 22, 24, 32 and 39 which fit nicely between the school runs.

 

[James Wake]

Island Coaster is Vectis Blue buses when it runs, Shanklin Shuttle as well. The 1545 approx route 6 from Newport one weekday in July was a Vectis Blue bus, as was on an earlier day in the same week the same bus was being used on 0940 Newport to Ryde 8.

 

[Birdbrain]

Yes, 1523 worked two round trips on route G on the Sunday of beer and buses weekend, substituting for a poorly CDL899. Only a few blue e400s are fitted with ticket machines for service work, you probably won’t red pen the non ticket machine ones like 1523 unless at a bus rally.

 

[E-Rail]

....quite surprising for a rather youthful fleet to be confined to schools

The Vectis Blue Enviro 400s and Solos were brought brand new with 3 point seatbelts specifically for schools and school private hires. They were part of an all Island award to Southern Vectis which more or less covered all home to school bus services. I think there was 21 e400s originally although at least a couple are now with Damory for Dorset schools.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Ah so 1523 was a rare cop then really! I think this was out Saturday too unless a different one was used, I saw one on the route X as we were going out of Ryde in the morning.

Has there ever been rail replacement buses in recent years on the Island Line? Is it Vectis Blue or normal Southern Vectis green ones?

Might have to try the Island Breezers and look up the Shanklin Shuttle and do it one summer

 

[gka472l]

Currently on the Isle of Wight for a couple of days, noted 1525 on the 5 out of Newport this morning....several more Vectis Blue E400's (plus a couple of Solo's and coaches) were parked at the back by the bus museum in Ryde, presume more in the main depot in Newport?

 

[A0]

It's been a few years since I was last on the IoW - do SVOC still paint their coaches and brand them using former coach company names? The ones I recall were Fountain Coaches, West Wight and Moss Motors.

 

[Birdbrain]

No branding now, everything is called Vectis Blue. Most Vectis Blue vehicles will be either parked at Ryde Depot or at a private site near Newport.

When rail replacement does happen, Vectis Blue Coaches are usually used.