Bus service improvement plan and enhanced partners
We are working on a new plan called "Bus Back Better" from the Government.
This plan asks local transport groups to make a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and work closely with bus companies.
The goal is to get more people to use buses. To do this, we will make bus services better, improve bus stops and stations, and connect buses with other types of eco-friendly travel.
Isle of Wight BSIP
The BSIP outlines our joint strategic vision with Southern Vectis, as the sole commercial bus operator on the Island, to meet the aspirations of the Government’s national bus strategy; to grow bus usage and raise buses' mode share. This will be achieved through working in partnership with Southern Vectis, as well as the train and ferry operators on the Island.
Isle
of Wight Council Bus Service Improvement Delivery Plan 2025 to 2026
The Isle of Wight Council has a new plan to make bus services better over the next 12 to 24 months. This plan is based on the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) that started in January. The goal is to improve local bus services and bus stops to help everyone travel more easily.
For full details download the Isle of Wight Council Bus Service Improvement Delivery Plan 2025 to 2026 (PDF, 112KB)
This table is a summary of the delivery plan.
| Category | Scheme or Measure Title | Description and Outcomes | Target Delivery Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles | ZEBRA Fund 2 | This will introduce 22 electric buses and charging infrastructure to the Island | March 2026 |
| Vehicles | ZEBRA Fund 2 - Scope Increase | This will introduce a further 9 electric buses and charging infrastructure to the Island | March 2026 |
| Bus service support/network development | Local Bus Service 8 Enhancement | Increase frequency of route 8 to every 30mins daytimes between Newport and Sandown year-round. | September 2025 |
| Bus service support/network development | Maintain Evening Journeys on rural services 6 & 12 | This will maintain the additional evening journeys on rural bus services 6 & 12 | September 2025 |
| Bus service support/network development | Maintain existing BSIP funding for services 6 & 12 during the off-peak season | This will provide revenue support to maintain service levels on the rural routes 6 & 12 during the winter period | September 2025 |
| Bus service support/network development | Newport Town bus service enhancements | Introduce a revised and more complete Newport town service, encompassing routes 38 and 39, every 30mins daytime and introduce evening service. | May 2026 |
| Simpler/more affordable fares | Town Service Fare Cap | Introduce a £1.50 flat fare cap on all local Town Services | May 2026 |
| Vehicles | Town Service Electrification | Contribute towards Electric buses for the Newport Town Services | March 2027 |
| Bus stops/stations/interchanges | Bus Infrastructure Investment | Improvements to roadside bus infrastructure across the Island, this will include new shelters, improved lighting, hard standings and accessible facilities | March 2027 |
| Improved information, marketing | RTPI Infrastructure Investment | Roll out of further Real Time Passenger Information systems across the Island. | March 2027 |
| Bus priority infrastructure | Traffic Signal Priority Project | Upgrade all signalised junctions on key local bus routes to include signal priority | March 2026 |
Our vision
Within the Isle of Wight, both organisations recognise that local bus services are, and will remain to be, central to sustainable transport provision. The BSIP represents a once in a generation opportunity for us to work in partnership with Southern Vectis, and other community operators. Working together we can shape local provision to meet the needs of Island residents and visitors into the future. Through partnership working and ongoing joint investment, the BSIP will enable passenger growth to meet the future needs of Island. As well as whilst addressing emerging challenges including the reductions in greenhouse gases to achieve the Island’s climate change objectives.
The Isle of Wight Bus Service Improvement Plan approved by cabinet on 9 January 2025.
Enhanced Partnerships (EP)
At the meeting held on 16 June 2021 cabinet gave approval to proceed with the development of an Enhanced Partnership. The commencement of this is confirmed through this notice of the intention to prepare an Enhanced Partnership Plan and accompanying Enhanced Partnership Schemes. As required and set out in section 138F of the Transport Act 2000.
These were adopted and ratified by Cabinet in September 2023
EP Plan
The Enhanced Partnership Plan (PDF, 1MB) sets a high-level vision for the Island’s bus network. This includes journey time and reliability targets, and the plans to deliver them. It closely replicates the Isle of Wight BSIP published in October 2021.
The main points of the EP Plan are as follows:
Extent of the Enhanced Partnership
- Justification
- Why the Enhanced Partnership route has been chosen.
- EP Plan duration, review process and alignment to Council strategies
- Overview of the Island’s Bus Network
- Analysis of the existing network to EP Objectives
- IWC EP Objectives
EP Scheme
The Enhanced Partnership Scheme (PDF, 956KB) accompanies the EP Plan sets out the agreed obligations on the Council and Southern Vectis as the local commercial bus operator. It represents the mechanism by which the commitments made in the BSIP and EP Plan are delivered ‘on the ground.’ All parties are clear about their respective obligations, and they are, as far as possible, comprehensively, accurately, and unambiguously recorded.
The main points of the EP Scheme are as follows:
- Scope of the EP Scheme, commencement date and any exempted local bus services
- Obligations on the Isle of Wight Council
- Obligations on Southern Vectis
- Joint obligations
- Governance arrangements
- Review of the EP Scheme
BSIP Phase 2
In 2023, a new round of funding for BSIP Phase 2 was announced. We worked with Southern Vectis and the Isle of Wight Bus and Rail Users Group on our proposals.
We have agreed to use the funding for:
- More evening trips on service 6 (Newport to Ventnor) from Monday to Saturday
- More evening trips on service 12 (Newport to Alum Bay) from Monday to Saturday
- Increase service 5 (Newport to East Cowes) from three to four buses per hour
- Support services 6 and 12 in winter (October to March) to keep them running
Improvements A, B, and D will be from October 2023 to September 2025.
Improvement C will be from May 2024 to May 2026.
If you need any documents on this page in a different format, contact the service