Southern Vectis Poole, and Solent Blue Line in Southampton. The new operations used older Southern Vectis buses and second-hand double-deckers. Southern Vectis also moved into other business areas on the isle of Wight. The company bought a self-drive van hire firm. It also bought two Ford Granada taxis, which it ran from the Cowes pontoon and began taxibus services which continued till 1989. In 2003, Southern Vectis started "The Pink Peril", a pink bus designed to take students to and from school. The vehicle, an Iveco minibus (fleet number 283) was the oldest in the fleet. In July 2005, Southern Vectis and
Southern Vectis to Southern Vectis for free travelling passengers from 76 percent to 46 percent. In 2009, concessionary travel accounted for just under half of all journeys on Southern Vectis buses. In 2010, free travel was restricted to off-peak times.. On 17 March 2008, Southern Vectis ended several evening, night and Sunday routes. More details about the service cuts emerged soon after. On 1 September 2008, routes 27, 28 and 29 ended. In 2009, another subsidy decrease occurred. Routes 4 and 5, some journeys on route 6, routes 14 and 16 were withdrawn. In 2009, southern Vectis staff went on strike for