Solent hovercraft service operator Hovertravel has awarded First Bus Solent a contract to operate its Hoverbus service, which connects the hovercraft’s Southsea terminal, from where it offers a crossing to and from the Isle of Wight, to a number of bus stops across Portsmouth.
Starting from Wednesday 1 May, First introduced a new bus dedicated to the route, complete with a new livery, although the timetable and route remain the same. Furthermore, ticket prices are being reduced. Managing Director of Hovertravel Neil Chapman explainsed “Connecting our hovercraft service with both train stations and city centre of Portsmouth is a crucial part of our customer journey and we are delighted to be working with First Bus Solent to offer the Hoverbus. We are also keen to see how we can be a proactive partner for the First Bus Solent network, hopefully offering our customers better access to more connections.”
First Bus Solent’s Commercial Director James Eustace added: “We’re very proud to be appointed to run this flagship service, connecting people across Portsmouth and Southsea to the Isle of Wight. HoverBus is a fantastic bus option that anyone can use – not just passengers for the hovercraft. We look forward to delivering a first-class service for all.
“We are also keen to see how we can enhance this service, as well as encouraging wider uptake of the bus, hopefully attracting customers across the city not just those passengers travelling between Southsea and the Isle of Wight.”
