Wightlink has been forced to cancel all of its Fastcat sailings to and from the Isle of Wight for the rest of the day.
The cross-Solent operator says that due to an earlier technical issue with Wight Ryder II, it has had to cancel a number of sailings this evening (Saturday) – but in reality it is a complete suspension of service.
The Ryde Pier Head-Portsmouth Harbour route is currently completely reliant on Wight Ryder II as its sister vessel, Wight Ryder I, is out of the water for annual maintenance.
An issue developed earlier in the day which led to 30 minute delays. But now, a more serious issue means the boat has been pulled from operation.
The 17:15, 18:15, 19:20, 20:20, 21:45 and 22:45 sailings from Portsmouth Harbour have been cancelled, as well as the 17:45, 18:45, 19:47, 20:52, 22:15 and 23:10 sailings from Ryde Pier Head.
There are no other timetabled sailings, meaning the service will not operate again today.
Customers are advised that tickets can be used on the Fishbourne-Portsmouth car ferry instead.
Those using Wightlink’s foot passenger service will face disruption on Monday too, as a charter vessel will be used to operate a longer crossing, between the hours of 08:00 and 13:00.
This is to allow teams to carry out further investigations at the North End berth at Portsmouth, which is currently undergoing essential maintenance.
UPDATE – Services have now resumed.
What a total shambles , no wonder the Island is dieing a death , costs a fortune to visit , and now you can’t even get there !
But don’t worry, because they’ve cancelled the sailings, this won’t effect their stats so will continue to make out like it’s a brilliant service…
NATIONALISE THE FERRIES FOR. HROST SAKE
so, if the ferry was nationalised like you say, it would still only have two boats, of which one would still have been in annual maintenance. The issue with the other would still have occurred – so nothing would be any different
The point is that a privatised ferry company focuses on profit for its CEO and shareholders. A nationalised ferry company focus is on it’s customers and reinvesting in its stock. A private equity company has no interest other than making the money
doesn’t alter the fact that the boat would still be in annual maintenance and the issue with the other would still have occured
your point is irrelevant to the circumstances as usual
Joke
Shame they do not build a tunnel..
A third Ferry operator would solve this, Guessing a fixed link will never happen. Welcome to Alcatraz, enjoy your stay, good luck leaving on time
Rub some onion on the gears and she’ll be good as new
Turned up last night for it when got off train only to be told to go to car ferry….no bus service provided to get there or taxis provided.Very poor service,unbelievable expensive and not as reliable as they make it out to be.JUST BUILD THE TUNNELand get this island back on the map before it dies for ever
it is at best a few minutes walk to the car ferry from the fastcat/rail station. There is also a large taxi rank right outside the rail station, if you really need one.
stop being so dramatic.
They put on a shuttle bus from fishbourne to ryde/ryde to fishbourne though which you conveniently forgot to mention
one does wonder why you are always so quick to defend wightlink,red funnel, & the post-thatcherite ‘every public service should make as much profit for the already-rich, whilst providing the minimum level of service possible’ business model that they operate….
presumably, you are one of the very few, that benefit from lining your pockets by screwing the general public out of every penny possible…
because we don’t live in some hippie commune, back slapping each other whilst singing kumbaya thats why
Ridiculous it’s getting worse and people here want to keep this service ,the island is really suffering cause these companies ,scrap them off build a tunnel or bridge job done