The Wightlink User Group is this week urging ferry operators, local authorities and the Government to improve ferry reliability and scheduling, extend NHS travel discounts to healthcare workers and to develop emergency transport contingency plans.
Recent reports published by lobbyists via the Wightlink User Group (WUG) highlight the critical issues of costly and unreliable ferry services with limited competition, private equity ownership, and regulatory gaps in essential infrastructure.
Currently, 2 private equity-owned operators, Wightlink and Red Funnel, dominate the market, leaving ferry users with few alternatives and enabling these companies to maintain high fares. Unlike publicly subsidised ferry routes in Scotland, the Isle of Wight’s services operate with minimal public investment or oversight. This results in inflated prices and limited reinvestment into infrastructure.
Furthermore, WUG says private equity ownership has further compounded these challenges. These firms often prioritise short-term profit maximisation through high dividends while underfunding essential maintenance and improvements. Complex and opaque ownership structures make it difficult to hold operators accountable or ensure their practices align with the public interest.
With South Western Trains scheduled to be returned to public ownership in 2025, WUG is hopeful the Government will recognise the need to review the Island’s essential ferry links to the mainland.
A spokesperson for Wightlink User Group has said:
“Ferry issues are delaying critical treatments, such as cancer therapies, causing missed appointments, emotional strain, and financial hardship for patients who rely on mainland medical services.
“Healthcare professionals face unpredictable schedules and high commuting costs, making staff retention and recruitment increasingly difficult.
Article continues below this advertisement “Emergency situations are particularly vulnerable, with ferry delays posing life-threatening risks when time-sensitive care is needed.
“Dependable ferry services are not just about convenience—they are a lifeline for the Isle of Wight community. The current situation is untenable, putting lives at risk and creating significant burdens on patients and healthcare workers alike. We call on stakeholders to take immediate action to resolve these issues.”
To address these challenges, the WUG is lobbying the ferry operators and the Department for Transport to urgently address increasingly high ferry fares, dynamic pricing, and unreliable services.
The recommendations / proposed solutions are:
- Public Investment and Subsidies: Government funding to reduce fares and promote infrastructure reinvestment.
- Regulatory Oversight: Introducing Public Service Obligations (PSOs) to ensure fair pricing, improved service quality, and long-term investment.
- Transparency and Accountability: Requiring ownership transparency and closing tax loopholes to ensure fair contributions from ferry operators.
- Exploring Public Ownership or Partnerships: Transitioning to a model that prioritises affordability and service sustainability over short-term profits.
The spokesperson adds:
“The population of the Isle of Wight is estimated to be circa 142,290 people. These changes are essential to ensure ferry services meet the needs of healthcare workers, residents and visitors while supporting the island’s economic and social well-being”.
Cheaper fares for Island residents is a must!
It’s a private ltd company, so I can not see the government can tell them what to do business wise. Wightlink/red funnel would be better off taking their boats to another island. Then there would not be a problem with cost here.