Red Funnel’s services to and from the Isle of Wight are being hit by cancellations and delays on what is one of the busiest days of the year for the cross-Solent operator.
As thousands of people descend on the Isle of Wight for this weekend’s Isle of Wight Festival, Red Funnel is struggling with engine issues on both its vehicle ferry and Red Jet service.
Earlier this morning the 07:15 Red Jet from Southampton and the 07:50 return from West Cowes were both cancelled as a result of an engine sensor issue on board Red Jet 7.
Now, it has been confirmed that the vehicle ferry service between Southampton and East Cowes is delayed by 60 minutes due to a technical issue with Red Eagle’s forward main engine.
The hour-long ferry delays and the earlier Red Jet cancellations are likely to have a big impact on today’s service.
Red Funnel apologises for the inconvenience caused to your journey.
UPDATE @ 08:55 – The 09:00 vehicle ferry from Southampton and the 10:30 return from East Cowes have both been cancelled due to the aforementioned technical issue with Red Eagle’s main forward engine.
UPDATE @ 14:15 – Delays have now increased to 90 minutes for all booked traffic, Red Funnel warns.
and it was going so well!
You could see this coming a Mike off, good luck to all those stuck waiting in the heat.
Difficult to feel much sympathy for RF but there will be a lot of hot and disgruntled Festival-goers.
This is where they should be made to compensate every passenger when they are delayed. The longer the delay the more they should pay. Ultimately they have their money already so whilst it will be a pain for staff the company will still do alright out of today’s sailings. If anything they will probably sell more ice creams etc at the terminal whilst people wait.
Red Funnel ( and Wightlink ) cannot be “made to compensate every passenger”. They are not subject to rules like airlines and can do whatever they like. If, tomorrow, they decide to reduce their service to one crossing a day, they can, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. That is a fact.
The only way services will improve is to introduce another operator with a public service remit (nationalised or Council owned). Given the costs / lack of berthing space, that isn’t going to happen.
The only other alternative is a fixed link. If you don’t like that then you will have to learn to put up with the RF/Wightlink duopoly and all it entails
Seems like the airlines are getting away with it to at the moment, I really feel for holiday makers at the moment. I am already reading stories where they are having trouble getting their money back.
I wish I knew the reason why they, and other public transport providers, are not made to compensate passengers, just like the airlines HAVE TO. One rule for one, another rule for another. Unjust and unfair. Time something was done to put things right.
OK. There are two basic ways you can be compensated for delays and cancellations.
ATOL: This is the legal framework that compensates travellers for delays in flights that are part of a package holiday. It is a legal requirement to provide this cover.
ABTA: A voluntary organisation that most (reputable) holiday firms subscribe to. It is not enshrined in law but does cover ferry cancellations.
In both cases only package holidays are covered. If you book your flight or ferry separately, you are not covered.
So, if your holiday includes flights or ferries, you are covered. If it doesn’t, you aren’t.
So for people booking their own ferry crossing you have exactly the same protection offered by ATOL. None at all.
lol 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Very mature!
Yet the fortunately rare reggae singer wails “welcome to de Isla Wight’
Hollow words when stuck waiting to come here
Bloody hell……..there will be many waiting around for hours I would imagine. Not good.
both at same time sounds suspect OR bad fuel I hope they can recover soon.!!!!!
Oh well at least no one is off sick !!!!!!!!
Feel for those hanging around though ……
What a pathetic company Ref Funnel has turned into! Dreadful service and they actually said they were to put on a mini festival for the festival goers. Maybe they need to concentrate on their core business.
Maybe when non Islanders get inconvenienced in their thousands and are all complaining on social media about the reliability and prices something will actually get done (and I don’t mean the pie-in-the-sky idea of a fixed link). A reliable, fair priced ferry system is all we ask for.
Such a shame for all the festival people coming over here. Red Funnel have ripped you all off for a start as they know they can and do exactly as they want, once they have your money. When you eventually get over here hope you all have a lovely time.
We have to put up with this company all the time and the rude staff at East Cowes.
It is not really the end of the world. O.K so there is a delay we will all survive and move on.
Well said Rob
Best build a bridge!!!
Borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring
Oh no… I am off to the mainland this afternoon to baby sit my 1 yr old granddaughter
Really!
Just waiting for Wightlink and the floating bridge to have problems triple whammy
Floating Bridge?? What’s that then? Never used new one, is it running, ? Isn’t it running, is tide in or out.. will it take valence off front of car? won’t it..?
We’re already 20 years behind so 90 minutes won’t make much difference!
If you cannot live with the cost and problems of living on this beautiful island that please move to the mainland.
No one is making anyone live here.
Ah, the standard ‘I’m alright Jack’ reply to anyone that dares to propose any improvements, investment or change to this island.
It’s exactly this sort of apathy that stops it from fulfilling it’s potential.
Even the Red Arrows seemed to be suffering from staff shortages. Only 7 turned up today
Oh when,oh when are they going to open up this crossing to more competition.I think wightlink just take us all for granted now.They can’t even adjust their timetable to coincide with the arrivals of the busy trains from London.I’m going to a show in Portsmouth in September.I still can’t believe the last ferry back is 20:30!! Have to stay in a Hotel.
Why don’t they use the tunnel lol