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Southern Vectis

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Southern Vectis
A Southern Vectis Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC in Shanklin in January 2018
ParentGo-Ahead Group
Founded1921
Service areaIsle of Wight
Service typeBus services
Fleet105
OperatorGo South Coast
Chief executiveAndrew Wickham
Websitewww.islandbuses.info Edit this at Wikidata

Southern Vectis is a bus operator on the Isle of Wight, founded in 1921 as "Dodson and Campbell" and became the "Vectis Bus Company" in 1923. The company was purchased by Southern Railway before being nationalised in 1969. In 1987, the company was re-privatised, and in July 2005, it became a subsidiary of Go-Ahead Group.

History

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Past lettering and logos
Tilling Group gold lettering pre-1972
National Bus Company (1972–1986)
The logo used from 2006 until 2013
The logo used from 2013 until 2023

1921–1928

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In 1921 in Cowes, the company was founded as "Dodson & Campbell".[1] In 1923, the company was renamed the "Vectis Bus Company". "Vectis" is the Roman name for the Isle of Wight. The buses were built by the London bus body builder, Christopher Dodson.

Double-deckers at Ryde depot in 1979
Eastern Coach Works bodied Bristol RE in post 1995 cream, red and green livery, June 2008

1929–1985

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In 1929, the company was purchased by Southern Railway and was incorporated as "The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited".[2]

In 1948, Southern Railway was nationalised and then in 1969, Southern Vectis became part of the National Bus Company.

1986–2004

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In 1986, with deregulation after the passing of the Transport Act 1985, the business was sold in a management buy out.[3][4] Five new operators entered the market on the Isle of Wight.

In 1987, Southern Vectis started Badger Vectis in Poole, and Solent Blue Line in Southampton. The new operations used older Southern Vectis buses and second-hand double-deckers.[5] Southern Vectis also moved into other business areas on the isle of Wight. The company bought a self-drive van hire firm. It also bought two Ford Granada taxis, which it ran from the Cowes pontoon and began taxibus services which continued till 1989.[6]

In 2003, Southern Vectis started "The Pink Peril", a school service using a pink bus.[7][8]

2005–present

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In July 2005, Southern Vectis and Solent Blue Line were sold to the Go-Ahead Group and became part of Go South Coast.[9]

In April 2006, the network was changed with Newport the hub and other routes linking to it. Some routes, for example the "Island Explorer" were lost. However, the changes proved successful. Within 18 months, passenger numbers had increased by 45 per cent. This included a 14 per cent growth in fare-paying customers.[10]

In October 2009, Southern Vectis launched a website promoting a car scrappage scheme, which offered Island residents a 12-month season ticket for bus journeys if they agreed to scrap their car. The company stated that five vehicles had been scrapped within the first fortnight of the promotion, and it had received around 6,000 enquiries.[11][12]

In 2011, Southern Vectis closed its garage in Park Road, Ryde. It is now the site of the Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum[13] though some Southern Vectis buses remain outstationed in the neighbouring yard. Most of the fleet is now based at the Nelson Road, Newport garage, with other outstations around the island. Another former garage, at Pier Street, Ventnor, was put up for auction in December 2020, with planning permission granted for two retail units and 10 flats to be built on the site, but then subsequently withdrawn.[14]

On 13 June 2022, a consortium of Australia's Kinetic Group (51%) and Spain's Globalvia (49%) launched a takeover bid of the parent Go-Ahead Group.[15][16] The majority of shareholders voted to accept the offer in August 2022.[17]

Business practices in the deregulated market

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Gange's Minicoaches alongside a Southern Vectis minibus, late 1980s
Eastern Coach Works bodied Bristol LH at Ryde bus station on route 1A in June 1987

As a result of deregulation in 1986, several competitors started and others increased existing services. These competitors included Gange's Minicoaches, Grand Hotel Tours, Island Travel (Cooke's Coaches of Porchfield), Moss Motor Tours, Seaview Services' RedLynx and Wiltax of Shanklin.[1][18] Island Travel and Gange's Minicoaches established routes between Cowes and Ryde.[1]

The newly privatised Southern Vectis responded with a number of new business practices. These practices raised the interest of the Office of Fair Trading who, in 1987, investigated the company and found their behaviour to be anti-competitive.[1][19]

Duplication

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It was alleged that Southern Vectis was engaged in "duplication", running buses immediately ahead of competitors' where routes coincided, and having their drivers lie in wait for competitors' vehicles in order to beat them to waiting passengers.[20] In 1991, duplication tactics were seen again when Southern Vectis shadowed an Isle of Wight County Council contracted bus run by Norman Baker Taxis.[19]

Bus station use

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Competitors using stops outside the Newport bus station

In 1986, Southern Vectis acquired Newport bus station as part of their privatisation and refused competitors access to it.[21] The Office of Fair Trading report, published in 1988, found Southern Vectis' behaviour to be anti-competitive. Southern Vectis was told to either allow competitors to use the bus station or appear before the Competition Commission. Gange's Minicoaches, the plaintiff, was offered use of "Stand F" in Ryde bus station, and was also offered a stand in the Newport bus station. However, Gange's did not find the charges set for either station agreeable, and continued to operate from the opposite side of Ryde bus station on council land and the South Street bus stop in Newport, until their service discontinued.

Franchising

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Southern Vectis started to franchise its routes[when?].[19] For instance, Southern Vectis franchised Solent Blue Line routes to Marchwood Motorways; the Newport Town Circular was franchised to M-Travel, and then the Alpha Group after M-Travel closed. The Traditional Bus Company and The Village Bus Company were franchised some open-top routes including the Shanklin Pony.

School bus services

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In 2008, after its sale to Go-Ahead Group, Southern Vectis competed directly with the Isle of Wight Council's Wightbus school services, duplicating routes and claiming term ticket fees for student passengers from the council.[22] In September 2010, the council engaged Southern Vectis to operate many school bus routes. Services began in 2012 under Vectis Blue; under the terms of the contract, the general public were not able to use them. In 2021, they were integrated into Southern Vectis.

Operations in 2000s

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In 2009, Southern Vectis operated fifteen standard bus services,[23] the most frequent being route 1, running every 7–8 minutes.[24] Night buses ran on some routes on Friday and Saturday nights:[4]

Open-top buses

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'Needles Breezer' open-top bus at The Needles (2018)

Southern Vectis's "Open Top Tours" (orange and yellow livery) ran two circular summer routes to tourist destinations. In 2007, "Open top Tours" was rebranded to "Island Breezers" (yellow and blue livery). Other open-top tours operated by Southern Vectis included "The Needles Breezer", "The Downs Breezer", "The Sandown Bay Breezer" (finished 2012).

In 2007, an "Island Coaster" service started between Ryde and Alum Bay with a ten-pound all day ticket or longer period tickets for local residents.[25][26][27] The Island Coaster followed the route of two former services, the "12" from Ryde to Sandown and the "7/7A" from Sandown to Alum Bay. Stops were at Freshwater Bay and Blackgang Chine, linking them with Ventnor, Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde. To get between Blackgang Chine and Brook near Brighstone, the service used the Military Road.

The 2008 season began on 15 March and finished on 2 November 2008. Some changes were made. Route number "X40" was removed (although still displayed on buses). There was no stop at the Bembridge Coast Hotel or Sandown Esplanade. In 2009, there was only one morning and one afternoon journey each way, one of which terminated or started in Shanklin rather than Ryde and reached from Freshwater Bay to Yarmouth, but not reaching Alum Bay. Coaches were used rather than buses.[28][29][30]

In 2011, "The Shanklin Steamer" (to Old Village, Shanklin Esplanade, Shanklin Chine and the Shanklin railway station) commenced operation.[citation needed].

Tourist road trains

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An Isle of Wight Council Dotto road train

Until September 2009, three tourist road trains operated along the seafront of three island towns, Ryde, Shanklin and Sandown. The services were run by Southern Vectis under contract to Isle of Wight Council. In April 2010, it was announced that the vehicles would be retired due to increased maintenance costs. In January 2011, the Dotto Trains were sold to a dealer in Llandudno.[31]

Vectis Blue coach transport

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In July 2012, a new £28m school transport contract was made by the Isle of Wight council with Southern Vectis.[citation needed] New vehicles, Optare Solo SR M920s were ordered and arrived in September 2012. Some buses were transferred from the Go-Southcoast subsidiary, Damory Coaches formed of Volvo B12Ms with Alieeze T9 Bodywork Registered MV02.[citation needed] New double deckers ordered from Alexander Dennis were delivered in January 2013.[citation needed] Southern Vectis' involvement in coaching had varied through the years; early in the company's history the firm took no interest in coaching, preferring to leave the field to other operators. However, the company became involved in coaching through acquisition and conglomeration.[citation needed]

Some buses had previously been acquired from Fountain Coaches. The company had been assimilated into Southern Vectis when the National Bus Company rationalised in 1969.[32] West Wight Bus & Coach Company and four of its coaches had been purchased by Southern Vectis in 1987.[33] Moss Motor Tours was purchased by Southern Vectis in 1994. Wightrollers' eleven coaches were purchased by Go South Coast in July 2011. Southern Vectis employed staff from the firm.[34]

Other services

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The company has been involved in Isle of Wight events such as the Isle of Wight Festival and the Bestival. Additional buses were brought to the island. During the Isle of Wight Festival, extra shuttle services were run from Lymington to Yarmouth Wightlink ferry terminal; from the Southampton to East Cowes Red Funnel ferry terminal; and from the Portsmouth to Fishborne and Portsmouth to Ryde Wightlink ferry terminal and Fastcat passenger boat terminal.[35]

An Open Top Christmas Lights Tour has been operated. One of the company's "Island Breezer" liveried buses took a two-hour journey past the most illuminated houses on the island.[36] For the 2008 tour, a stop at the Old World Tea Rooms in Godshill was added for a complimentary mince pie and a hot drink.[37]

In 2009, the company ran the "Sailbus" during Cowes Week.[38] There was decreased patronage due to new fares and the service did not run the following year.[39]

Fares and subsidies

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Southern Vectis has increased its fares in reflection of its strong market position and lack of effective competition. Southern Vectis fares have also reflected the need to provide free transport to a relatively large population of elderly people who reside on the Isle of Wight.[40][41]

Students under 19, in full-time education on the Isle of Wight, have received discounted fares under the Isle of Wight Council's Student Rider scheme.[42] In July 2010 after cuts in funding from the UK government to local authorities, the scheme was ended.

Island residents and visitors living in England over the qualifying age or with a disability have travelled for free in the council area at any time of day, under the Government's England-wide scheme. In 2007, the Isle of Wight council reduced its reimbursement to Southern Vectis for free-travelling passengers from 76 per cent to 46 per cent.[43] In 2009, concessionary travel accounted for just under half of all journeys on Southern Vectis buses.[10] In 2010, free travel was restricted to off-peak times.[44]

On 17 March 2008, Southern Vectis ended several evening, night and Sunday routes.[45][46] More details about the service cuts emerged soon after.[47] On 1 September 2008, routes 27, 28 and 29 ended.[48]

In 2009, another subsidy decrease occurred. Routes 4 and 5, some journeys on route 6, routes 14 and 16 were withdrawn.[49] In 2009, Southern Vectis staff went on strike for three days over pay.[50]

In 2017, Southern Vectis introduced a contactless payment system for tickets.[51] In 2021, Tap On Tap Off[52] was introduced, a contactless ticket-free payment system enabling capped daily fares.

Fleet

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Alexander Dennis Enviro400 in Ryde in May 2016

As of December 2023, Southern Vectis operates a fleet of 83 buses.[53]

Livery

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In April 2006, almost all Southern Vectis buses were painted in a new 'Best Impressions' livery with two shades of green with a new logo and slogan, "the island's buses".[54] This livery was refreshed by Best Impressions in 2014 to incorporate a large green swoop towards the back of the vehicles, similar to the design of the Vectis Blue livery. Prior to 2014, most open-top routes had a blue and orange livery, with "Island Breezers" branding. This was revised in 2014, when the Needles Breezer received a blue, green and orange livery, reminiscent of Go South Coast's Purbeck Breezers. This livery was later rolled out to the rest of the Island Breezers fleet, as the buses were gradually replaced or repainted.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d The Director General of Fair Trading (1988). The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited: Refusal to allow access to Newport Bus Station, Isle of Wight (Report). Office of Fair Trading.
  2. ^ Companies House extract company no 241973 The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited
  3. ^ No. 2005917 Companies House data.
  4. ^ a b Who we are Southern Vectis
  5. ^ We are bluestar Bluestar Bus company.
  6. ^ Newman, Richard (1989). Southern Vectis: The First 60 Years. Ensign Publications. p. 44. ISBN 1-85455-025-X.
  7. ^ "Iwight - pink bus press release". www.iwight.gov.uk. 2007. Archived from the original on 18 February 2006. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  8. ^ Lightfoot, Liz (20 May 2003). "Ride on pink bus drives unruly pupils to behave themselves". London: www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  9. ^ Recommended cash o and became part of offer for Southern Vectis plc Go-Ahead Group 11 July 2005
  10. ^ a b "Isle of Wight County Press – "Island feels strain of rise in bus use"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  11. ^ "Scrappage scheme a success". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  12. ^ "Eco Island – Get wheels in motion" (PDF). Isle of Wight County Press. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  13. ^ "About the Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum". May 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers". Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  15. ^ Georgiadis, Philip; Dunkley, Emma (14 June 2022). "Go-Ahead accepts £650mn bid from group led by Australian bus operator". Financial Times. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  16. ^ We submit together with Kinetic an offer for the acquisition of Go-Ahead Globalvia 14 June 2022
  17. ^ Result of Meeting Go-Ahead Group 16 August 2022
  18. ^ Newman, Richard (1989). Southern Vectis: The First 60 Years. Ensign Publications. p. 43. ISBN 1-85455-025-X.
  19. ^ a b c Maurice Leppard (20 September 1991). "Buses Rout of Small Rivals". Isle of Wight County Press.
  20. ^ reynardbizzar (February 2008). "Gangebusters ready for action". Flickr. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  21. ^ "Vectis forced to share", Commercial Motor, vol. 168, no. 4620, p. 13, 26 February 1988
  22. ^ "Isle of Wight County Press – "Stop ridiculous ghost bus waste"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  23. ^ "Southern Vectis route list". www.islandbuses.info. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  24. ^ "Southern Vectis route 1". www.islandbuses.info. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  25. ^ "Southern Vectis – Island Coaster". www.islandbuses.info. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  26. ^ "Southern Vectis – rover and freedom tickets". www.islandbuses.info. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  27. ^ "No concessions on tourist buses". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  28. ^ "times050409.pdf". Southern Vectis. 4 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  29. ^ "the island's buses (SV forum)". Southern Vectis. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  30. ^ "Southern Vectis blog – "Back to Blogging..."". Southern Vectis. Retrieved 3 March 2009.[dead link‍]
  31. ^ Dotto Trains Sold to Welsh Bidder On the Wight 11 January 2011
  32. ^ Newman, Richard (1989). Southern Vectis: The First 60 Years. Ensign Publications. p. 36. ISBN 1-85455-025-X.
  33. ^ Newman, Richard (1989). Southern Vectis: The First 60 Years. Ensign Publications. p. 44. ISBN 1-85455-025-X.
  34. ^ Perry, Simon; Perry, Sally (7 December 2010). "CABINET MEETING: LIVE COVERAGE (UPDATE 26)". VentnorBlog. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  35. ^ "Southern Vectis – Isle of Wight Festival additional shuttle services". www.islandbuses.info. Archived from the original on 2 July 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  36. ^ "Southern Vectis blog – "Christmas cometh…"". www.islandbuses.info/wordpress. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  37. ^ "Southern Vectis – Christmas Lights Tour". www.islandbuses.info. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  38. ^ "Isle of Wight County Press – "Sailbus will run at £1 a journey"". www.iwcp.co.uk. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
  39. ^ "Fears that Sailbus could run aground". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  40. ^ National Economic Research Associates (December 1997). "The Effectiveness of Undertakings in the Bus Industry". Research Paper 14. OFT. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  41. ^ "Big rise in single bus fare". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  42. ^ "Isle of Wight County Press – "Joy on the buses for teenagers"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  43. ^ "Isle of Wight County Press – "Cut in bus fares subsidy agreed"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  44. ^ "End to unlimited free bus travel for over 60s". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  45. ^ "Isle of Wight County Press – "Weekend and night buses under threat"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  46. ^ "Isle of Wight County Press – "Bus services under threat"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  47. ^ "Isle of Wight County Press – "Buses slashed amid subsidies row"". www.iwcp.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  48. ^ "Isle of Wight Council press release – "IW Council Steps in to Preserve Bus Routes". www.iwight.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  49. ^ "Bus service cuts". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  50. ^ "Bestival buses will run despite drivers' strike". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  51. ^ "Brand new buses and contactless payment for Southern Vectis". Island Echo. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  52. ^ "Tap On Tap Off contactless payments". Southern Vectis. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  53. ^ "Fleet list". Southern Vectis. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  54. ^ "Southbus.co.uk – Southern Vectis company profile". www.southbus.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2008.

Further reading

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  • Newman, Richard (2004). Southern Vectis 1929–2004: 75 years serving the Isle of Wight. Colourprint books. ISBN 978-1-904242-24-6.
  • Kraemer-Johnson and Bishop, Glyn and John (2006). Glory Days – Buses on the Isle of Wight. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-3114-2.
  • Booth, Gavin (2006). Bus Operators 1970: South-West and Southern England. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-3034-0.
  • Haines, John (2001). Where in the world are the Southern Vectis Buses?. G&K Publications in conjunction with DTS Publishing. ISBN 1-900515-35-0.
  • Newman, Richard (1989). Southern Vectis: The First 60 Years. Ensign Publications. ISBN 1-85455-025-X.
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