The Southern Vectis Unofficial Bus Enthusiasts' Website
Road Trains
 
Technical & History Briefing
Registration
Mark		 Fleet
No.		 Make / Model Date
New		 Current Livery or
Date Withdrawn
B874BYA [610]
previously
[5610]		 Road Runner 05/1985 Orange & Yellow
(Clarice)
M712LJT [609]
previously
[5609]		 Road Runner 06/1995 Orange & Yellow
(Beatrice)
R851LDF [611]
previously
[5611]		 Mezzo P.90 ??/1997 Orange & Yellow
(Alice)
 
Detailed History
Three Road Trains passed on lease for five years to Southern Vectis during 2005 from the Isle of Wight Council: B874BYA / M712LJT & R851LDF which were numbered [5609] / [5610] & [5611] and were acquired by the Isle of Wight Council during March 1996 / July 1995 & July 1998 respectively.

Known as Dotto Trains (Dotto being the product name of the original manufacturer of this type of vehicle) the Isle of Wight Council have operated them for several years during the summer seasons' in Shanklin, Sandown & Ryde.

For 2005 the Isle of Wight Council invited tenders to operate these routes and Southern Vectis were awarded the franchise to operate the services for five years, the Road Trains (or Dotto Trains) remaining in Isle of Wight Council ownership. The previous fleet numbers [5610] / [5609] & [5611] have been adopted by Southern Vectis.

Southern Vectis planned to commence the Road Train operation on Good Friday 25 March 2005 but this was delayed due to taking late delivery of the vehicles. The roadside bus stops were rebranded as Vectis Road Trains and two of the Road Trains - B874BYA [5610] & M712LJT [5609] - were repainted into Orange & Yellow "Open Top Tours" livery (it was planned to repaint all three). A test day was held on Friday 27 May 2005 when passengers were allowed to travel free of charge, B874BYA broke down that day delaying its introduction on the Sandown route to 15 June 2005, otherwise normal services commenced on Saturday 28 May 2005 for the summer season on the existing routes of the IW Council:
Road Runner Dotto Train B874BYA operates the Sandown service and is branded the Sandown Road Train.
Road Runner Dotto Train M712LJT operates the Shanklin service and is branded the Shanklin Road Train.
Mezzo P.90 Dotto Train R851LDF (which is fitted with a wheelchair lift) operates the Ryde service and is branded the Ryde Road Train.

During March 2006 R851LDF [5611] was repainted into Orange & Yellow "Open Top Tours" livery.

During 2006 (by 20 September 2006) B874BYA [5610] / M712LJT [5609] & R851LDF [5611] were renumbered to [610] / [609] & [611] respectively. [per Marc Morgan-Huws / Ian Rivett]

All three were named:
by 22 November 2006: R851LDF [611] was named "Alice". [per Marc Morgan-Huws]
on 25 March 2007 B874BYA [610] & M712LJT [609] were named "Clarice" & "Beatrice" respectively. [per Marc Morgan-Huws]
 
Photo Selection
An offside-front view of the Sandown Road Train, Road Runner B874BYA in Orange & Yellow "Open Top Tours" livery in High Street, Sandown, on 10 July 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of the Shanklin Road Train, Road Runner M712LJT in Orange & Yellow "Open Top Tours" livery in Hope Road, Shanklin, during the test day on 27 May 2005 when passengers were allowed to travel free of charge.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of the Ryde Road Train, Mezzo P.90 R851LDF still in the Isle of Wight Council White livery at Ryde Esplanade on 29 June 2005. The Mezzo tractor differs from the other two Road Runner Trains in that it is a three-axle unit whilst the "train" is equipped with a wheelchair lift for the disabled.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
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