Normal Service Will be Resumed, Eventually

Bus Vannin’s contingency bus timetable will remain in place until the end of the school holidays.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Thomas was asked for an update by Speaker Juan Watterson about when normal service will be restored.

The contingency bus timetable was introduced by the DoI on June 17, following weeks of disruption that saw services cancelled with little or no warning for passengers.

At the time, the DoI said that the contingency service, which saw bus numbers cut from Monday to Saturday, was ‘likely to run until the schools break up for summer holidays’. The department said this would ‘give bus vannin time to finalise additional recruitment and training, as well as see a return to work for some staff’.

However, two weeks into the school holidays the reduced service is still in place and cancellations are still affecting passengers.

Mr Thomas, in his response to Mr Watterson, said: ‘The [Public Transport] Division aims to return to a ‘standard’ timetable at the earliest opportunity based on improved staffing levels and fixed implementation dates met, anticipated to be around early September. The Division is working with key stakeholders and colleagues to deliver this goal.’

Changes

A note for anyone who uses Bus Route No 25H

The Service 25 journey previously operated at 0805 to Willaston and Onchan now operates 10 minutes earlier as a Service 25H as shown below.

This Service now continues to Nobles Hospital

0755 Lord Street, Stand D dep.

0759 Rosemount, Trinity Church

0802 York Road

0805 Victoria Road, Shoprite

0810 Onchan, Manx Arms

0816 Birch Hill, shop

0821 Hailwood Ave, School Layby

0825 Willaston, School Shelter

0830 St. Ninians Layby

0833 Prospect Terrace

0845 Lord Street, Stand B dep.

0850 Quarterbridge

0855 Nobles Hospital

Service 5

An additional Service 5 operates from Nobles Hospital to Douglas as shown below:

0905 Nobles Hospital

0909 Quarterbridge

0918 Lord Street, arrive.