There is yet more disruption for those crossing the Solent with Red Funnel as another engine issue has arisen on board one of the Raptor-class vehicle ferries, leading to delays and cancellations this Bank Holiday Monday.
The 07:30 sailing from East Cowes broke down near Fawley with what has been described as a fault with a pump on Red Falcon’s Aft engine.
Falcon has slowly travelled up Southampton Water, with a tug now requested to assist the ferry into port to unload vehicles and passengers destined for the mainland.
Red Funnel has confirmed that the 09:00 and 12:00 sailings from Southampton have been cancelled as a result of this morning’s issue, as have the 10:30 and 13:30 sailings from East Cowes.
Similar situations in recent months tells us that further cancellations are likely throughout the day, as many holidaymakers and other visitors return home after a sunny Bank Holiday Weekend on the Isle of Wight.
Red Funnel apologises for any inconvenience.
This news is a double blow to Red Funnel customers as the cross-Solent operator has already announced last-minute cancellations on its Red Jet hi-speed service today.
For the Bank Holiday, Red Funnel had timetabled additional hi-speed sailings – but announced this morning that those extra crossings have been pulled due to a lack of staff.
A one-boat service is now back in operation meaning the 08:25, 09:35, 10:55, 12:05 and 13:15 sailings from Southampton have been cancelled, as have the 07:50? 09:00? 11:30 and 12:40 sailings from West Cowes.
Meanwhile, in Ryde, Wightlink have had to cancel their 08:45 shuttle crossing (which is operating due to the breakdown of both Wight Ryder catamarans), due to the need to refuel the charter vessel.
UPDATE @ 15:24 – Red Falcon is back in service, but the service is running with delays of over 45 minutes.
And yet, our ‘oh so caring’ Government who promised to fix “broken Britain” have rejected any idea of intervening in the Islands “lifeline” services.
Wonder if Quigley will dare pipe up?
With respect, these are private ferry companies (one courtesy of the Tory sell off of BR). They operate under the terms the Tories promoted. The Tories have always been against nationalisation and regulation so it ill behoves anyone to point te finger at a Labour government for this failure. The government promised to fix broken Britain but that must mean pubicly operated services, at least in the first instance.
Just go your done..
Illegal asylum rubber dinghies run a more reliable service!!!
and when they reach their destination they get
5 star ☆☆☆☆☆ accommodation.
It’s a good job Dick Quigley sorted the problem
with the Ferries, imagine what a state they would be
in otherwise
Lol
Blah, Blah, Blah
The 3pm has now been cancelled from east cowes until 3.30pm. My son was on the 12pm originally. It’s hectic in east cowes avoid the area if not travelling back to mainland!
Bank Holiday Monday is never a good day to travel.
This is getting absurd now ! Absolute shambles due to years of underfunding oh except the shareholders of course !!!! How can we plan anything if the service lol is so unreliable every day !!!!!!
Wait till the crap EV slow jet gets built and put into service ..oh how we will laugh..