50 years of national bus services celebrated

A new exhibition celebrating 50 years of bus travel on the Isle of Man has launched.

The display at the House of Manannan, in Peel, focuses on the island's publicly-owned bus service and has been put together by Manx National Heritage and Bus Vannin.

The exhibition, called A Bus Service, charts the evolution of the service from its nationalisation, through bendy bus and electric bus trials, to the current fleet and brings together photographs and memorabilia, along with interactive activities for children.

Before the nationalisation, buses were run by two separate companies - the Douglas Corporation Transport Department, which served the capital and the surrounding area, and Isle of Man Road Service Ltd, which ran services between town and villages elsewhere.

However, with the rise in car travel in the 1970s hitting passenger numbers, financial difficulties led to the government stepping in.

The two firms were merged under public ownership in October 1976 to become Isle of Man National Transport, which today runs under the banner of Bus Vannin.

Assistant Curator with MNH Nicola Tooms said the nostalgic display would spark memories for residents.

"Almost everyone on the Isle of Man has a memory connected to the bus service, whether it's travelling to school, heading into town or visiting family and friends," she said.

"This exhibition looks back at how the island's buses have evolved over the past 50 years and celebrates the vital role they continue to play in keeping communities connected."

At the official launch of the exhibition on Thursday, a plaque was unveiled marking the service's half-century milestone.

A Bus Service is on display until 22 November.

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