Wightbus route 16
Encyclopedia
Wightbus route 16 or the Rail link service was a bus service operated on the Isle of Wight
by Wightbus
between St Lawrence
and Shanklin
via Ventnor Botanic Garden
, Ventnor
and Bonchurch
. It was introduced in 2004 to restore a rail connection to Ventnor and St Lawrence, whose railway stations were closed in the mid-twentieth century.
In July 2010 it was announced that as of September of that year, the Rail Link service would be withdrawn due to budget cuts in supporting subsidised bus services made by the Isle of Wight Council. After the last bus on 4 September 2010 route 31 was diverted to serve St Lawrence to cover lost ground and Southern Vectis route 3
was re-routed to serve the Shanklin rail station maintaining some kind of connection with Ventnor.
opened their Ventnor station
in 1866, with another company's Ventnor West branch
line reaching St Lawrence
in 1897, then a separate station at Ventnor West
(initially named Ventnor Town) in 1900. The Ventnor West branch closed in 1952 and, despite its popularity with residents and visitors, the main IWR Ventnor station was closed, along with that at neighbouring Wroxall
, under the recommendations of the Beeching Report in 1966. Trains were to be replaced by enhanced bus services, with the new route 39 being introduced, running from Shanklin to Ventnor via Wroxall before being withdrawn in the early 1980s.
By the 1990s, buses to and from Ventnor were not generally providing a connection to or from trains at Shanklin station
. An attempt to run connecting services as an offshoot from the Ventnor town bus route (31) in the late 1990s failed to run at a profit and was withdrawn.
, the South East England Development Agency and the Isle of Wight Council
. As well as linking Ventnor to the railway, it also gave St Lawrence, then poorly served by public transport, a better bus service into Ventnor.
However, the service was plagued by late running and missed connections when it was first introduced. Despite assurances that the route would be kept clear, it seemed the problem stemmed from the bus being unable to pass parked vehicles on the route as it was originally designed. The intention was that on alternate journeys in each direction (i.e.: every 2 hours each way) the bus would run via Bonchurch village on its way between Ventnor and Shanklin. Within a week the route had to be amended so that all journeys ran along the A3055 road
and avoided Bonchurch Village. This led to some annoyance among the population of Bonchurch, who had hoped for improved transport. The option of running these buses via Bonchurch village once more has recently been raised.
until the early 1990s. This route ran from Ryde Town Hall through to Niton and Blackgang via Ventnor; the Shanklin-St.Lawrence section was revived by the Wightbus service.
Passengers were able to buy through-tickets to any Island Line station and Portsmouth Harbour
, and return bus tickets, which are not available during the daytime on other Island bus services.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
by 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...
between St Lawrence
St Lawrence, Isle of Wight
St Lawrence is a village on the south side of the Isle of Wight, in southern England. It is located to the west of Ventnor and many consider it a part of that town. St Lawrence is situated on the Undercliff, and is subject to regular landslips.-Features:...
and Shanklin
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...
via Ventnor Botanic Garden
Ventnor Botanic Garden
Ventnor Botanic Garden is a botanic garden located in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. It was founded in 1970, by Sir Harold Hillier, and donated to the Isle of Wight Council. The garden is free to visit, except for parking charges....
, 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 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...
. It was introduced in 2004 to restore a rail connection to Ventnor and St Lawrence, whose railway stations were closed in the mid-twentieth century.
In July 2010 it was announced that as of September of that year, the Rail Link service would be withdrawn due to budget cuts in supporting subsidised bus services made by the Isle of Wight Council. After the last bus on 4 September 2010 route 31 was diverted to serve St Lawrence to cover lost ground and Southern Vectis route 3
Southern Vectis route 3
Southern Vectis route 3 is a bus service operated on the Isle of Wight by Southern Vectis between Newport, Ventnor and Ryde. It also runs via Rookley, Godshill and Brading. The general daytime frequency of the route is every half-hour each direction, although in the evenings and on Sundays fewer...
was re-routed to serve the Shanklin rail station maintaining some kind of connection with Ventnor.
Previous Rail connections to Ventnor
The Isle of Wight RailwayIsle of Wight Railway
The Isle of Wight Railway was a railway company on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. The company owned 14 miles of railway line and its headquarters were at Sandown...
opened their Ventnor station
Ventnor railway station
Ventnor railway station was the terminus of the Isle of Wight Railway line from Ryde.The station lay on a ledge above sea level which had to be quarried into the hill side. The station was immediately outside a long tunnel through St. Boniface Down. A lack of space meant that a turntable was...
in 1866, with another company's Ventnor West branch
Ventnor West branch
The Ventnor West branch was the final addition to the Isle of Wight railway network, and utilised an earlier scheme to run a railway from Shanklin to the railwayless south-west part of the island.- History :...
line reaching St Lawrence
St. Lawrence railway station
St. Lawrence railway station was the original terminus of the branch from Merstone until the 1½ mile extension to Ventnor was completed in June 1900. From 1927 the station was downgraded to the status of an unstaffed halt.- Location :...
in 1897, then a separate station at Ventnor West
Ventnor West railway station
Ventnor West railway station was opened on 1 June 1900 as the final addition to the railway network on the Isle of Wight. It was originally opened as Ventnor Town but the station was renamed in 1923 by the Southern Railway.- Location :...
(initially named Ventnor Town) in 1900. The Ventnor West branch closed in 1952 and, despite its popularity with residents and visitors, the main IWR Ventnor station was closed, along with that at neighbouring Wroxall
Wroxall railway station
Wroxall railway station was an intermediate station on the Isle of Wight Railway line from Ryde, situated between Shanklin and Ventnor with an upland situation...
, under the recommendations of the Beeching Report in 1966. Trains were to be replaced by enhanced bus services, with the new route 39 being introduced, running from Shanklin to Ventnor via Wroxall before being withdrawn in the early 1980s.
By the 1990s, buses to and from Ventnor were not generally providing a connection to or from trains at Shanklin station
Shanklin railway station
Shanklin railway station is a railway station serving Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. It is the present terminus of the Island Line from Ryde, although the line used to run to Ventnor. The station now has one platform with a ticket office and a small shop with the second platform now in use as a...
. An attempt to run connecting services as an offshoot from the Ventnor town bus route (31) in the late 1990s failed to run at a profit and was withdrawn.
Introduction of Rail Link bus
The rail link service ran for a relatively short time, having started in October 2004. Representatives of the regeneration partnerships of Ventnor and Shanklin and Ventnor Railway Association campaigned for around a year to get it started and contributed funds together with Island LineIsland Line, Isle of Wight
The Island Line is a railway line on the Isle of Wight, running some from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin down the eastern side of the island. The line was electrified in 1967. Trains connect with passenger ferries to Portsmouth Harbour at Ryde Pier Head, and these ferries in turn connect with the...
, the South East England Development Agency and the 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....
. As well as linking Ventnor to the railway, it also gave St Lawrence, then poorly served by public transport, a better bus service into Ventnor.
However, the service was plagued by late running and missed connections when it was first introduced. Despite assurances that the route would be kept clear, it seemed the problem stemmed from the bus being unable to pass parked vehicles on the route as it was originally designed. The intention was that on alternate journeys in each direction (i.e.: every 2 hours each way) the bus would run via Bonchurch village on its way between Ventnor and Shanklin. Within a week the route had to be amended so that all journeys ran along 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...
and avoided Bonchurch Village. This led to some annoyance among the population of Bonchurch, who had hoped for improved transport. The option of running these buses via Bonchurch village once more has recently been raised.
History of 'route 16'
The route's number was a reference to an older bus service run by Southern VectisSouthern 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...
until the early 1990s. This route ran from Ryde Town Hall through to Niton and Blackgang via Ventnor; the Shanklin-St.Lawrence section was revived by the Wightbus service.
Withdrawal
In June 2010 reports began that rural bus services would be cut in order for the Isle of Wight Council to save up to £7 million over four years. Later in July it was reported that the Rail Link service would form part of these cuts and would cease to operate from 4 September 2010. At the time, route 16 was the only form of public transport to serve St Lawrence so current route 31 which already served Ventnor and Wroxall had to be extended to cover lost ground. Although most areas were served by other bus routes, it ended the ability to purchase a combined bus and train ticket and also ended the Ventnor to Shanklin return fare.Services
An hourly service was operated in each direction during the daytime. There was generally no evening or Sunday service, although some journeys at these times were run in the summer of 2005. Journeys were timed specifically to meet trains at Shanklin. A single deck bus in a modified Wightbus livery was used to operate the route with 'Rail link service' applied to both sides.Passengers were able to buy through-tickets to any Island Line station and Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour railway station
Portsmouth Harbour railway station is a railway station in Portsmouth, England. It is situated beside Gunwharf Quays in the city's harbour, and is an important transport terminal, with a bus interchange and ferry services to Gosport and the Isle of Wight. The station currently has four platforms:...
, and return bus tickets, which are not available during the daytime on other Island bus services.
| Bus leaves Departure point ↓ | First buses | Last buses | Journey Times (daytime)to: | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to St Lawrence | to Shanklin | to St Lawrence | to Shanklin | St Lawrence | Ventnor Botanic Garden | Ventnor | Bonchurch | Shanklin | |||
| St Lawrence | 08:04 | 16:04 | 0h05 | 0h11 | 0h16 | 0h26 | |||||
| Ventnor Botanic Garden | 09:58 | 08:09 | 17:58 | 17:04 | 0h06 | 0h06 | 0h11 | 0h21 | |||
| Ventnor | 09:53 | 08:15 | 17:53 | 17:15 | 0h11 | 0h05 | 0h05 | 0h15 | |||
| Bonchurch | 08:46 | 08:20 | 17:46 | 17:20 | 0h18 | 0h12 | 0h07 | 0h10 | |||
| Shanklin | 09:36 | 17:36 | 0h28 | 0h22 | 0h17 | 0h10 | |||||
External links
- Wightbus details on the Isle of Wight Council's website - iwight.com
- Timetable on Traveline - traveline.org.uk