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Isle of Man National Transport 1977 - 1983

Isle of Man Passenger Transport Board 1983 - 1986

Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Transport 1986 - 2010 (t/a Isle of Man Transport 1988 - 2008; t/a Bus Vannin 2009 onwards)

Isle of Man Department of Community, Culture and Leisure 2010 - 2014

Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure 2014 onwards

Fleet history page 2, 1988 to 2023 (by Shane Conway)

Last updated on 4 September 2024

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Having had several years of repeated fleet renewal using second-buses, Robert Smith was appointed Transport Executive in 1987, and from the following year new buses began to be purchased once more. These were the first new buses since the 1977 batch of Nationals, the first new double deckers since 1968, and even more notable, the first new Leyland double deckers since 1964. The six Olympians also had Leyland bodywork, and were joined in 1989 and 1990 by two further batches of six and seven respectively; this baker's dozen of vehicles also reintroducing Northern Counties bodywork for the first time since 1949. Two Leyland Lynxes joined the fleet in 1990, followed in 1991 by the fifth and final batch of Atlanteans, a batch of dual door Alexander bodied AN68s which came from Portsmouth. One of the Lynxes was turned out in the old Road Services livery, with two Nationals being repainted in Douglas Corporation livery to complement it.

After that, 22 new Dennis Darts were delivered over the three years from 1992, accompanied by five ex Hull Dennis Dominators in 1993, eight used Olympians from Southern National and Metrobus, Orpington in 1996, and nine Leyland Lynxes from Halton Borough Transport in 1997. Further second hand Olympians began arriving in 1998, initially ex London, and were later joined by ex Dublin vehicles. New vehicles since then have included DAF and Dennis double deckers with step free entrances, as well as similarly equipped Dennis Darts to replace the earlier Plaxton bodied ones. By 2008 just thirteen Leyland Olympians remained in the fleet, with the other 73 members of the island's bus fleet being wheelchair accessible. Compared to 1976, the fleet total of 2008 had only increased by three vehicles, but the number of single deck buses had dropped from 36 to 12, with a consequent increase of double deck capacity from 47 buses in 1976, to 74 vehicles in 2008. A number of older Manx buses have been retained (or re-acquired) and restored by the company as a heritage fleet.

In 2009, a batch of eleven Wrights bodied Volvo B9TLs were placed in service. Apart from being the island's first Volvo deckers, they also introduced a new fleetname (Bus Vannin) and a new livery based on that of East Yorkshire. These vehicles in turn reduced the surviving Olympian fleet to just two buses, both on schools duties. With the withdrawal of these last Leylands, the Isle of Man's bus services are now totally worked by vehicles supplied new to the island, for the first time since 1967. The arrival of the Mercedes Citaro fleet introduced a new livery of all over silver grey, not the most effective scheme, and a consequent swing back to a larger fleet of single deckers. Contrasting with this modern accessible fleet has been the opening of the Manx Transport Trust's museum in Jurby, where some examples of the island's former buses can be seen. A further collection of classic Isle of Man buses is in the care of the Manx Transport Enthusiasts Association in Douglas.

My thanks to John Davis, Richard Davis, Stephen Clough, Steve White and James Gleig for help received so far.

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