USING buses that are greener, coupled with an increased frequency in services, has helped boost Southern Vectis passenger numbers by more than three million over the past three years.
Adding 28 new buses to the 105-strong fleet, since 2006, has had a marked effect on passenger numbers, according to Marc Morgan Huws, operations manager at Southern Vectis.
"Through a whole package of measures, many of which embody what Eco-Island is about, we have transformed our operation. We have run 60 per cent more services in that period, which is staggering," he said, at the latest Green Tank eco meeting.
"The biggest drive in getting people on buses is a more frequent service and the quality of the buses.
"Each time we double the frequency, passenger numbers shoot right up. I said in 2005 we would run between Newport and Cowes every six minutes within a year and people thought I was bonkers. Now it’s a reality.
"The buses are bursting full. It's a really dramatic change on the Island. Three years ago we carried about 5.28 million passengers on our buses. Last year we carried 8.29 million. That’s three million extra journeys made by bus — a 57 per cent increase — the highest percentage increase anywhere in the UK. As far as getting people onto buses is concerned, we really are on a mission."
All the company’s buses now meet greener EU emission standards. Southern Vectis, which has its own carbon management committee, is one of the few UK operators to boast that, said Mr Morgan Huws.
"We are making sure we try to do everything we can in a sustainable manner. We have two new bus washes and they recycle all the water that goes through them."
Reporter: jonm@iwcpmail.co.uk