Get on board
If you're fed up with rush hour traffic jams or simply looking to reduce the financial and environmental cost of motoring and parking....read on.
Every full bus means up to 40 cars off the road
If more people commuted to work by bus, we would have less congestion, lower fuel emissions and more income for bus vannin – and that would result in a lower subsidy from the taxpayer while enabling us to provide better services.
It's a win-win no brainer. If you are paying car running costs to commute from Ramsey, Peel or Port Erin, taking the bus could actually work out cheaper. And should you also pay for parking you'll save a significant amount.
We appreciate that not everyone works from 9am to 5.30pm and there will be days you need your own transport. But take a look at the commuter tips below to see how you could improve your day by going by bus. Your bus vannin buses are fully accessible, modern and most now have free wifi! Go to our website timetables or get yourself a free copy of the published bus Journey Planner & Timetables booklet to plan your journey.
Feel free to contact us by phone on +44 1625 662525 or email publictransport@gov.im if you would like tailored advice.
Commuter tips
Regular passengers can save more money by purchasing bus saver Go cards or multi-journey Go Places cards in advance. These are available online, from the Welcome Centre in Douglas Sea Terminal, main stations and other card issuing stations.
For instance, you can purchase a Go card for 1, 3, 5 or 7 days unlimited bus travel (half fare discount on Hullad Oie/Night Owl services). This means you can use the bus to commute to work plus travel in the evenings and weekends. A 5 day Go card is £19 while a 7 day card costs £23 for adults.
We also have annual cards available – the Go Platinum Bus card includes all bus services and is £800 for an adult for one year. Alternatively the Go Platinum Reserve at £880 includes all scheduled bus and rail services plus admission to Manx National Heritage sites for one year.
Alternatively, if you use the bus regularly on the same journey, you will save money by buying a 12 journey Go Places card, no matter how often or infrequently you travel. For example, the full fare from Castletown to Douglas is £2.70 but a Go Places card for the same journey (Band D) is £25.00, saving £7.40. Also, a single Go Places card may be used by a group of people travelling together.
Commuting from Ramsey and the north
Service 3 departs Ramsey: 6.40am, 7.20am, 7.40am (school days), 8.10am (non school days), 8.40am then every 30mins until 6.40pm
Express service X3: 7.15am, 7.50am (returns at 5.06pm from Lord Street stand E)
Returns from Douglas: 3 or 3A at 15 or 45 minutes past the hour until 8.15pm then hourly, from Lord Street stand D.
Fares:
- Standard single: £3.10
- Day return (purchase on board): £5.70
- Go Places 12-journey ticket Band E (purchase in advance from main stations or Welcome Centre): £30.00
Commuting from Onchan, Willaston, Hailwood Avenue to Douglas
Services 1, 1H, 2, 3, 2A, 11, 12, 22, 22A, 25 numerous and frequent
Returns from Douglas: numerous and frequent
Fares:
- Standard single: £1.30
- Day return (purchase on board): £2.40
- Go Places 12-journey ticket Band B (purchase in advance from main stations or Welcome Centre): £12.50
Commuting from Port Erin and the south
Service 1, 1H, 2, 2A, 11, 12 at 5.30am, 5.55am, 6.25am then every 20 minutes.
Returns from Douglas: 10, 30 and 50 mins past the hour until 9.10pm from Lord Street stand C then half hourly until 10.10pm and 11.10pm. An additional journey at 5.35pm operates via Prospect Hill and Circular Road.
Fares:
- Standard single: £3.10
- Day return (purchase on board): £5.70
- Go Places 12-journey ticket Band E (purchase in advance online, from stations or Welcome Centre): £30.00
Commuting from Peel and the west
Service 5, 5A, 5C, or 6, 6A, 6C at 6.47am, 7.10am, 7.35am, 7.50am, 8.15am, 8:47am then every 30 minutes until 9.40pm.
Returns from Douglas: 07 and 37 minutes past the hour until 8.07pm then hourly. An additional journey at 5.22pm operates via Prospect Hill and Circular Road.
Fares:
- Standard single: £2.70
- Day return (purchase on board): £5.00
- Go Places 12-journey ticket Band D (purchase online, from stations or Welcome Centre): £25.00
Real time bus tracking and journey planner
Isle of Man Public Transport’s customers now have access to real time tracking of buses, trams and trains thanks to a new free app that has been built by a local developer in conjunction with the Cabinet Office and the Manx ICT Association.
The app, called “Bus-Man” can be found in all the app stores or can be accessed from any device or computer at www.bus-man.com and includes a map showing the real time position of all services including buses, electric trams, steam trains and horse trams. It also includes a journey planner and interactive timetables.
