A new bus timetable will come into effect on Monday, March 2.

The promenade shuttle bus, meant to support businesses during the delayed regeneration scheme, has been axed due to low usage.

Jason Moorhouse MHK, the politician with responsibility for transport, said: ’Our aim is to focus our resources on the areas where passenger numbers show that buses are most needed.’

Timetable changes:

Routes 1/2/2A/10/11/12/12A between Douglas and the south will see little change, them running at least every 15 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes in the evening and on Sundays.

The 5.20pm departure from Lord Street will no longer operate via Prospect Hill and Circular Road but will follow the normal route of a 1A service.

The route 10 service which previously served the hospital, the Business Park and Douglas will no longer operate as a route 10 but will operate as a 1H service.

Route 11 and 12 services will now operate during the day in addition to operating in the evenings and on Sundays.

Routes 26 and 27, which cover the hospital, Ballabrooie, Tromode Park estate and Willaston will be dropped and the 14B, which is also replacing the 4C service, will cover Westmoreland Road health centre.

Route 3 departures are now timed at 10 and 40 minutes past the hour from both Douglas and Ramsey, meaning they will be operating five minutes earlier throughout the day.

Routes 5 and 6 will operate as before although the first morning departure from Ramsey will leave two minutes earlier than it does now.

Route 13 from Douglas to Onchan, Groudle and Laxey continue as before although the first morning departure from Douglas will leave five minutes earlier than it does now.

Route 21 services in Douglas now all leave at five past or 25 to the hour but otherwise remain unchanged.

On route 28, which runs in the south of the island, the 9.16am service to Bradda Head has been dropped.

The season route 15 that runs in Laxey up to the Laxey Wheel has been scrapped.

Routes 17/18/19/19C/20, which cover the north of the island, will only operate on school days, Sundays and public holidays. Connect Village services will continue to serve customers from Monday to Saturday on a demand responsive basis.

The third timetabled flexi return service connecting Jurby and Ramsey has been moved into the afternoon, leaving Ramsey at 2pm as the midday departure was not being used.

In school holidays, a 4pm service from Ramsey to Jurby return will also operate, leaving the Bretney at 4.25pm and the Threshold at 4.30pm.

See this week’s Manx Independent for residents’ responses to these changes.

Mr Moorhouse added: ’Changes will improve services in many areas and will hopefully lead to a further increase in passenger numbers.

’Bus Vannin had a fantastic 2019 with a 3% increase year-on-year.’