Island Electrics - Part 1

With glorious early spring sunshine forecast all day on Saturday, I flew over to the Isle of Wight to sample the brand new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners that have just been introduced to service. The first twenty-three of eventually a planned 54 entered service from Sunday 15th March, and, I must say, they are very impressive buses.

I flew over to the Isle of Wight using HoverTravel - flying on Solent Flyer - on the 0930 departure from Southsea. Booked the night before, the fare was £34.00, with a £6 upgrade for all day bus travel. Various other upgrades are on offer too, such as both the Island Line and Steam Railway. Parking at Southsea was just over £9 for eight hours, with me booked on the 1615 Hover back to the mainland. The journey was fairly quiet for such a beautiful spring Saturday - above is a view out of the window as we approached Ryde.

My first one - fleet no. 1304 (HW26 FEM) pictured on local Ryde route 37. 

The first twenty-three Electroliners are primarily deployed on routes 4 (Ryde to East Cowes), 5 (Newport to East Cowes), 9 (Ryde to Newport) and 37 (Ryde, Binstead and Haylands circular). The odd one also pops up on route 8. They are banned so far from route 1 to Cowes - reportedly, a bridge with a weight restriction would be fouled along this route. I am sure solutions are presently being sought. 

Still gleaming without any offside adverts, here is fleet no. 1310 (HW26 FFA), passing Ryde Pavilion [Photo time: c.1030]

Despite my first departure on the 9 being an Enviro, the other allocations were all Electroliners. They looked very impressive. Seeing photos of the new livery, I wondered if there was too much lime green but, up close, they really look the part. You also begin to notice the intricacises of the fading - it is all very impressive. 

What could be considered the doyen of the fleet - fleet no. 1301 (HW26 FEH) - pictured heading along Ryde Esplanade departing for Newport. [Photo time: c.1155]

At present, the fleet is settling down with no clear allocations. The previously route 1 allocated Enviro400MMCs 1741-7 are found anywhere across the network, as are the former Morebus luxury seated Enviros 1648-54, which were initially allocated on West Wight routes 7 (Newport to Yarmouth & Alum Bay) and 12 (Newport to Brighstone & Alum Bay). A large number of the former 67-plate Enviros have moved on - these are now up in Cirencester for a college contract. 

Former Morebus Enviro400MMC fleet no. 1650 (HF66 CGE) is seen on route 4 to East Cowes, rather than the 7 or 12 to West Wight. [Photo time: 0947]

One of the last delivery of new buses to the island is fleet no. 1743 (HW73 BEC), new as part of a batch of seven for route 1 between Newport and Cowes. Pictured here at Ryde Travel Interchange on an 8 for Bembridge and Sandown.

No visit to the Isle of Wight is complete without a nod to the Island Line trains - former District Line stock now retrofitted for the island. This is 484 002 heading for Shanklin on the 1047 from Pier Head.

I sampled two Electroliners - fleet nos. 1322 on a route 9 to Newport, and 1308 on the return leg. The power and acceleration up the hills, particularly over the Staplers part of the route, is fantastic and the drivers seemed to be enjoying their new pieces of kit. Questions had been raised regarding the choice of seating for the buses - this is the usual Go South Coast blue bus seats, rather than high-backed versions. The choice was reportedly made to allow views from the top deck of the bus - certainly, it was very comfortable for my half-hour journey with no complaints. As one would expect from Southern Vectis, and from a bus only a week in service, the interior presentation matched the high levels of the external livery, with notices promoting the green and electric credentials of the bus. 

Electroliner fleet no. 1307 (HW26 FEU) pictured climbing Dover St in Ryde, against a beautiful backdrop of the Solent. [Photo time: 1546]

All in all - top marks from Southern Vectis, as usual. A classy operator setting high standards and continually looking to develop and innovate. 

Part 2 of the blog coming later this week, with a focus more on Newport and plenty more Electroliner photos coming up!