Island Bus v Rail

At the risk of shrinking their boots so that their owners become too big for them, those nice people at Southern Vectis deserves a further mention for its Islandbuses.info website. Over the last 2½ years, and now with sister Bluestar’s, it really shows up the other Go South Coast’s offering, at Wilts & Dorset. There’s a W&D overall promised but it’s overdue.

Omnibuses2.0’s original thoughts on the SVOC site mentioned a lack of information on the island’s rail line. Forget the competition, we felt that a portal as excellent as SVOC’s might usefully offer something on rail, taking an integrated view. And, low, there it is—in the shape of a prominent link. Regret, Island Lines Trains has yet to show reciprocity.

Shanklin to Ryde by train takes 25 minutes. By bus, it’s 47 minutes. The bus has the advantage of a straight quarter-hour frequency; the railway’s is haphazard, usually ..17 and ..36 from Shanklin. But, the bus also offers national as well as local free travel, whereas the train is free just to locals over 60 only. This has seen rail’s market share all but collapse, in favour of the bus.

Along with a comprehensive ‘getting about’ section and brave seven day weather forecast, SVOC’s added some secondary content on beaches, geology—and dinosaurs (*not* Leyland Olympians).

We understand attractions, accommodation and online purchasing will follow, plus something on the island’s history and its famous sons & daughters. There may also be a nostalgia section including cine film clips. All to make Islandbuses.info a one stop leisure facility.

And don’t forget the well written occasional blog.