Red Funnel is extending its Winter timetable until next Friday (4th April) due to delays in returning Red Eagle to service.
As Red Eagle was leaving dry dock in Falmouth, further works were identified as needing to be carried out. As a result, planned regulatory inspections had to be rearranged.
Limited availability of surveyors means there is now a delay in getting Red Eagle back into service and, therefore, a delay in introducing the Summer timetable on the East Cowes-Southampton route.
Red Eagle is back in Southampton but is simply moored up and unable to be used for passenger duties until being signed off by inspectors.
But customers shouldn’t get too excited… the Summer timetable will only run for a couple of weeks before a revised, 2-boat service is back in play.
It was announced earlier this month that Red Osprey will be out of service – again – between 22nd April and 19th May for the balance of the maintenance works to be carried out.
The news means that for a 4-week period, Red Funnel will be operating a Winter timetable with ferries departing every 90 minutes. This will include over the early May Bank Holiday.
The full Summer timetable will not be up and running, without disruption, until 20th May.
Customers affected by news of the delayed Summer timetable introduction will be contacted shortly with any updates to their travel times and will have the option to amend or cancel their sailing accordingly.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, previously said:
“Ensuring the resilience of our vehicle ferries is one of our top priorities, and investing in essential maintenance is the right decision to support our fleet’s long-term reliability.
“We greatly appreciate our customers’ support and understanding as we do our best to support them and ensure we’re in a more robust position for the months ahead”.
2025..you couldn’t make it up..
The ferry companies have out priced themselves.
Oh dear, not long now until the big announcement then. Cue dramatic drum roll.
After Rachel’s spring budget they will be cutting
back on employees and reducing hours.
I can’t wait for the Autumn budget.
“Glug, glug” Ah, further works required.
I might invest in a Dinghy, much more reliable,
they operate in all weather conditions and they
come with free 5 star hotel accommodation
when reaching the mainland.
Lol
Red funnel still not filed the accounts yet, summer timetable, by the looks of it there won’t be any timetable at all. Last day to file is 27th March, looks like this is it. RF will be a bad memory soon.