UPDATED: Hovertravel have once again been forced to suspended their cross-Solent service due to yet another technical issue with the troubled Island Flyer craft this morning (Saturday).
Passengers have had to make a last minute dash up Ryde Pier in a bid to catch Wightlink’s 07:47 Fastcat to Portsmouth – but Island Echo is told a lot of people unfortunately missed the sailing and will now have to wait another hour to get to the mainland.
Hovertravel cancelled their Ryde to Southsea service shortly before 17:00 yesterday afternoon due to the genuine adverse weather conditions on the Solent, and haven’t run a service since. The first scheduled crossing today was meant to be the 07:45 from Ryde but it has failed to operate. Passengers were informed just a few minutes before the craft was due to depart.
No detailed explanation has been given for this morning’s suspension, nor a time of estimated repair completion. Hovertravel say they are monitoring the situation hourly.
As previously reported, passengers are no longer getting push notifications or emails about the status of Hovertravel’s service – it’s just one of the unpopular changes announced at the end of October, which includes the scrapping of the 15-minute commuter service.
Solent Flyer is due to return to Ryde by the end of November but a service solely reliant on 1 craft will continue as Island Flyer is expected to depart for repairs in a Southampton early in 2019.
Wightlink’s Ryde Pier Head to Portsmouth service is operating as normal, but the company advise that the car park at the Pier is extremely busy. Passengers should consider other parking options, such as the Park and Ride at St John’s.
UPDATE @ 13:15 – Hovertravel say the next update will be at 15:00 this afternoon – by which time the service will have been suspended for 7 hours.
UPDATE @ 15:55 – Hovertravel’s cross-Solent service remains out of action this afternoon after more than 8 hours.
An update is due at 17:00.
UPDATE @ 17:10 – After some 9 hours the Ryde to Southsea service has now resumed.
Hovertravel have not said what exactly led to the day-long suspension of service…
