A report into how the Island can secure better ferry services and pricing, with suggestions of robust arrangements to hold ferry services to account – including regulation – has been released by the Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely. Mr Seely has this week released his in-depth study into cross-Solent ferry services, which comes at a time when Islanders are yet again being let down with delays and cancellations. The MP’s report considers proposals for a Solent Ferries Regulator (SFR), Department for Transport oversight, price caps on health journeys and voluntary regulation. A regulator could mandate more regular services, permanent improvements in early and late passenger services, stronger sanctions for the operators when services are cancelled, better compensation schemes for passengers affected by cancelled sailings, and duties placed on ferry companies to better connect with rail services. The regulator could also mandate greater discounts for Islanders, more multi-link ticketing options, electronic through-ticketing on all services with ongoing rail connections and options for foot-passengers to book seats. Speaking about the report, Bob Seely MP has said:
“The Isle of Wight needs, and deserves, a better deal from the ferry firms than the one we have. The status quo has lasted 40 years. I believe we need a new joint approach so I’ve written a plan for the Isle of Wight so we have a common agenda. “My research has led me to believe that, using a web of offshore companies, Wightlink and Red Funnel’s owners and lenders have taken large profits out of the firms for years. To drive efficiency and take even more profits, directors have cut timetables; introduced surge pricing, which penalises Islanders for making essential journeys at peak times; and limited investment in ferries, some of which are now 34 years old. Islanders are tired of ‘technical’ and ‘mechanical’ issues. The firms pay little to no corporation tax and are accountable only to their shareholders. We all lose. “So far, I have raised the issues with the ferry firms with three Secretaries of State for Transport and three separate Maritime Ministers. I have met with the local ferry firms on many occasions. Working with others, we have had some victories, including the Discounted Fares Scheme for Islanders, better rail connections at Lymington and later services into Ryde Pier Head. “However, we need a collective plan as an Island to turn things around and that’s what I am going to deliver. “I’ve released a report with some options for how we move forward. It includes ideas for better services, better pricing and ticketing and more transparent ownership. It identifies the problems and potential solutions. We need more robust arrangements in place to hold ferry services to account – and that includes regulation. “I encourage all Islanders to read my report and send me their feedback on it”.
Mr Seely has said there are 3 good reasons why now is the time to act:
“First, both Red Funnel and Wightlink have ageing car ferries and require significant capital investment to renew their vessels and shoreside infrastructure. They will no doubt be asking the Government for financial support; therefore, I believe we should argue for something in return. “Second, as part of the Islands Forum initiative which I lobbied for, the Government is looking into connectivity between the mainland and UK Islands. “Third, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the ferry firms took a limited amount of public money in recognition that they had an obligation to provide lifeline services. That was the first time any government has ever recognised the importance of these services. Now is the time to build on that. Services, timetables and prices are currently at the ferry firms’ discretion, however with the Government already looking at minimum service levels for passenger rail, I think we should ask them to look at similar options for the ferries.”
Mr Seely is asking for feedback on his report over the next 2 months. Once feedback is collated, a final report will be produced which will then be presented to the Isle of Wight Council for the local authority’s support. It’s hoped that a final report will enable re-engagement with Government ministers, officials and the ferry firms themselves with a clear agenda and a clear list of priorities.
A regulator could mandate more regular services – who pays the costs.
permanent improvements in early and late passenger services – who pays the costs
stronger sanctions for the operators when services are cancelled – who pays the costs
better compensation schemes for passengers affected by cancelled sailings – who pays the costs
greater discounts for Islanders – who pays the costs
price caps on health journeys – who pays the costs
the answer to who pays the costs – the islanders do in overall higher ticket prices or through a local ferry tax, to pay for the subsidies required to run such loss making services and below operating cost ticket prices.
this hasn’t been thought through.
They make a profit. Take away the profit, regulate via whole country taxation and thus lower the prices. It’s a necessary transport service, like the fully regulated buses in London and Manchester and in spite of the opposition initially from certain quarters it’s a resounding success.
Wrong – why should the rest of the country be expected to pay to subsidise unprofitable ferry departures, that islanders demand, yet never, ever used in any meaningful way before, hence why they were cancelled.
you will of course remember, that the reason the very late night fastcats were stopped, was because the only people using them were drunken slobs coming back from a night out in pompey and staff were fed up with dealing with the p ricks – so they lobbied their union and threatened to strike until the issue was resolved.
you cannot take away profit – how are they supposed to re-invest and pay increases in pay for staff – they are for profit companies, not a hippy commune charity.
There are ferries, train lines, public services and corporate operations all around the country that my taxes pay subsidy for, why should IW ferries be any different?
Personally I think they should become hybrid companies with a cooperative element owned by the islanders, with increased council tax to partially fund but concessions on fares and minimum commitments to be delivered.
so craig – you want those that are working and actually paying their council tax from their own pocket, to pay more, so that those benefit sponging leeches, that don’t pay anything, can have even cheaper ferry fares, whilst those paying, have to stump up full price tickets. You clearly don’t work.
cooperative element owned by islanders -so, are those same islanders going to be paying to support the businesses that they own, when the extra services that are demanded and never used are put in place, as well as cheap tickets, that don’t cover operating costs mean that the business is loss making and needs more money just to keep going
In the same way the entire country contributes to the rail services, the NHS, education etc etc. Because it’s a necessary transport service and not just for people who actually live and pay taxes here. And it wasn’t a hippy commune charity that first set up Sealink, it was the British Rail Board. Funded entirely by…taxation. It wasn’t posh, new and shiny, but it worked. For everyone, not the few who could afford it. Profit is exactly that, the money left after increases, and goes into the trousers of just a small group of people, not back into a pot to use for said service. I’m not against profits for companies, just not when they are needed public services. It’s like taxing food.
You haven’t got a clue mate.
Maybe you should book yourself a crossing and see how it goes or take your head out your A**
Why now bob it’s been a joke for years !!!
It’s obvious why.
MP’s report considers proposals for a Solent Ferries Regulator (SFR)
and who pays to staff and run this regulator – the islanders through higher ferry ticket prices to cover the large levy charged to the ferry companies to pay for a regulator
not thought through very well is it.
Benn our useless mp for five years,and says now is the time to act?
what an utter pratt,should have started on this 5 years ago!
dickhead.
It is 2024 build a bridge or tunnel, better for the climate too.
10 years ago when the fixed link brigade were at their peak it was calculated a fixed link would cost £1,000,000,000 (that’s a billion quid) Add 10 years of inflation to that plus the expected over budget costs and I somehow have my doubts that to appease 240,000 islanders any government (or investor) would probably laugh….
its about 150,000 islanders and for the record…
The Lower Thames Crossing, which was proposed to ease congestion on the Dartford Crossing, would connect Kent and Essex. It is expected to cost around £9bn for the whole 2.4-mile project, which would be built in Gravesend.
The silvertown tunnel under the thames that is due to open next year cost £1.2 billion to build and will cost a further £1 Billion over 25 years to cover maintenance, operations and finance costs. It is just under a mile long.
any isle of wight tunnel would be far longer than either of the above and way, way more expensive, as you are going under the solent and not just the thames.
not going to happen, ever.
I stand corrected.
I totally agree with your sentiments and was highlighting the same conclusion, It ain’t never going to happen.
about 9 million passengers travel to and from the IOW each year.
gottal larf said 10 years ago about a billion, just to build it. if you said payback over 25 years, that means the build cost would need to see about £4.40 per person, per journey. Then you need to add on the ongoing maintenance costs, operational costs and the finance costs from the original build costs – lets assume another billion.
This would then mean £8.80 per journey per person. That means a day return using the tunnel would be £17.60 per person, irrespective of adult/child/senior.
as £2 billion is 10 years ago you need to factor in todays costs and it makes a tunnel unviable based on 25 years usage, against the ferries.
Not all 150,000 islander pay tax. High number of children and elderly. Might skew the calculations, so far, far higher.
Bob!!! You can’t govern privately owned companies, or hold them to ransom, especially when the company answers to shareholds and investors. I’m sick of this subject being used to simply help with your political gains…
Worked on London buses. Now works in Manchester too. And it wasn’t his idea…he pinched them from the Labour administrations. Notice how many of the brilliant ideas they are coming up with (Tories in general) originate from Labour ones. Whether they’ll ever do them if in power again, well, that’s another matter!
Just a quick couple of questions Bob … You’ve had YONKS to suggest, encourage and help this happen.
Is it coincidence that you’re saying this just before election time?
Why have you not done everything you could to make this happen already?
Heres some feedback Pop Up Bob
In 7 years you have ignored the Ferries situation, always kicked it to the long grass .. so time for change, first a new effective and trustworthy MP ..
Haha a trustworthy MP hilarious
The government should just buy them new ferries and let them charge us higher prices. There is no alternative.
Ah yes, because rail in UK works so well, kek.
More hot air from teapot sealy before election starts.
Predictable or what
Welldone Bob, I have read your report and I’m In favour for a Solent Ferries Regulator (SFR). Someone needs to keep a regular check on both pirate ☠ operated ferries, they have got away with ripping off the public for to long, if they don’t lower the fares to a reasonable amount then close them down and get a public run ferry service.
£10 return foot passenger, £40 return car and driver.
Bob look at it logically both are owned by Canadian pension companies that pay f*** all tax why the f*** would they care about the captive isle of wight people that have to pay what ever the cost is to get off this rock
Thats it Bob you tell them !! hahahah,
What’s your next plan? pedalos from the pier head…
Twat.
If engineers can build bridges across the Severn Estuary and 19th century engineers could build a rail tunnel under it, isn’t it about time we had a fixed link? I’ve just paid Wightlink £110.75 for a trip to the mainland, involving an overnight stay – which, of course, was extra. My car is less than 5 metres long and less than 2 metres high. How can they justify this rip-off?
Nothing will ever change. The Ferry services are interested in one thing, making money, as are most companies.
Build a bridge or tunnel funded by government and private investors.
The bridge would pay for itself in 10 years.
The Ferry services would have to adapt or fall.
Where is the link to Bob’s report?
“using a web of offshore companies, Wightlink and Red Funnel’s owners and lenders have taken large profits out of the firms for years”. Is this not the standard Tory Party business operating model?