Hovertravel's Hoverbus service is getting a fresh look and cheaper fares after First Bus won the contract to operate it, starting from May 1.

The bus, used for ferrying passengers from various spots across Portsmouth to the Southsea Terminal for hovercraft crossings to the Isle of Wight, will sport a new livery.

However, the route and timetable remain unchanged.

The Hoverbus circular route includes:

  • Portsmouth's The Hard Interchange, for coach connections, Portsmouth Harbour rail station, Gosport Ferry, Gunwharf Quays, Historic Dockyard and Spinnaker Tower.
  • Commercial Road, for Portsmouth & Southsea rail station, Cascades Shopping Centre, The Guildhall and City Museum.
  • Bus stops for the University buildings.

To attract more users, ticket prices have been slashed in an attempt to position the Hoverbus as an affordable choice for all passengers.

Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, said: "Connecting our hovercraft service with both train stations and city centre of Portsmouth is a crucial part of our customer journey and we are delighted to be working with First Bus to offer the Hoverbus. 

"We are also keen to see how we can be a proactive partner for the First Bus network, hopefully offering our customers better access to more connections."