The Isle of Wight Council has approved a series of significant bus service enhancements designed to improve connectivity, support communities and strengthen local public transport across the Island.

Department for Transport Bus Services Fund revenue funding and other transport-related funding will be used to enhance services, introduce new routes and maintain improved frequencies on key bus corridors.

The enhancements support the ambitions set out in the Island Transport Plan, and aim to reduce dependency, tackle social isolation, improve access to employment, access to essential services and encourage more sustainable travel choices.

A number of enhancements will support rural communities with regular buses or new services, and others will protect the Island’s busier travel corridors with continued support.

The new and enhanced services will commence when the new Southern Vectis timetable comes into action on Sunday, September 27.

A new service via Havenstreet

As part of the package, a new Service 33 will be introduced between Newport and Ryde via Havenstreet.

The service will reconnect Havenstreet with the Island’s principal towns and wider public transport network, addressing a longstanding concern around rural isolation and improving access to employment, education, healthcare and leisure opportunities.

Additional journeys will operate on weekends, public holidays and during school holidays, with support from the Havenstreet Steam Railway.

Continuing to support rural communities with Service 6 and 12

The Council has also approved continued funding for several existing Southern Vectis services that have benefited from previous investment.

This includes maintaining additional evening journeys on Service 6 between Newport and Ventnor and Service 12 between Newport and Alum Bay, helping residents in rural communities travel later into the evening and access work, leisure and social activities.

Winter support funding will also continue to ensure both routes maintain existing service levels during periods of lower passenger demand.

These overall enhancements support Policy AS2 of the Island Transport Plan, supporting and promoting high quality, reliable, affordable, and connected public transport, with accessible and easy-to-use travel information and integrated travel opportunities.

During a 2025 consultation on the Island Transport Plan, 53% of the respondents to Policy Area 1 prioritised more frequent local bus services and 58% better connections between modes.

Protecting the Island’s busiest corridors

Further investment will therefore maintain enhanced service frequencies on some of the Island’s busiest corridors.

Service 8 between Newport and Sandown will continue to operate at a half-hourly frequency, while Service 5 between Newport and East Cowes will retain its enhanced 15-minute timetable.

It is hoped that continued passenger growth on these routes will support long-term commercial sustainability.

Enhancements in Newport

In Newport, the Council has also approved funding to support a redesigned town bus network through Services 38 and 39 from October 2026 through to 2031.

Developed following detailed analysis of passenger demand and engagement with local stakeholders, the revised routes will improve accessibility to communities including Carisbrooke, Gunville, Pan, Staplers, Whitepit Lane, Sylvan Drive and Fairlee, while providing stronger links to Newport town centre, employment areas, retail destinations and healthcare services.

To continue ensuring that the services are meeting the requirements of residents, reviews will be held every six months, looking at analysis on routes, stops and timetables in comparison to the wider Island network. This will make sure that services are performing to the level that residents expect.

Stewart Chandler, the Isle of Wight Council’s transport strategy manager, said: “We’re really excited to confirm that we’re supporting our rural communities and protecting our busiest corridors with a number of bus service enhancements.

“We’ve built upon an extensive public consultation which was undertaken during the preparation of the Island Transport Plan. During that consultation, residents identified improvements to local bus services, increased service frequencies and better connectivity as key transport priorities.

“We’ve heard this loud and clear from residents and we’re proud to have taken this action to address these priorities.”

Richard Tyldsley, Southern Vectis general manager, added: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Isle of Wight Council to deliver improved bus services to those living and working across the island.

“These latest changes are the result of extensive consultation – with improvements based upon feedback from local people.

“We are looking forward to introducing our new service enhancements in September, and will continue to work closely with the council with our shared goal to ensure the Isle of Wight can boast a bus network – now and in the future – that is second to none.”