Cross-Solent operator Red Funnel has cancelled a large number of vehicle ferry sailings for tonight (Thursday) and throughout Friday – 12 in total – due to a propulsion issue.
The 20:15 sailing from Southampton and the 21:45 from East Cowes were both cancelled earlier this evening, due to what is said to be unplanned maintenance of the propulsion equipment.
Now, Red Funnel has confirmed the 05:00, 08:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00 sailings from Southampton have been pulled for tomorrow, alongside the 06:30, 09:30, 12:30, 15:30 and 18:30 sailings from East Cowes.
It is unclear at this stage if there will be any further cancellations throughout Friday, on what is one of the busiest days of the week – and at the start of a heatwave weekend.
There is potential for the disruption to continue into the weekend, if the problem cannot be fixed in the next 24 hours.
On Tuesday night, Red funnel cancelled 2 sailings due to unplanned maintenance of onboard equipment.
Island Echo is told there is also an issue with Red Eagle’s passenger gangway.
This week demonstrates yet another challenging period for the operator, which is battling numerous issues with its aging Raptor-class fleet of vehicle ferries, which are due to be replaced – but not for at least another 4 years.
This morning foot passengers were having to walk down the way the cars go, after every vehicle had driven off!
No trouble with a bridge or tunnel.
Surprise surprise
Amazing how it never happens over the iow festival weekend.
i know things can breakdown at anytime
My thoughts exactly
Can you just imagine the furore if it did – that would then show to the nay-sayers just how vulnerable this island is!
Heatwave weekend, it is summer you fool.
It’s the standard for people travelling to or from the island. Will we get the ferry we’ve booked or get made to wait for hours? Both firms are just dreadful. Do we get compensation for having our plans thrown into disarray? Of course not, we’re just the idiots that pay their extortionate fares. More fool us.
And that’s why I’m moving.
As much as I think R.F. along with W.L. are total rip off companies I think that this must be a genuine breakdown and not a “low traffic so cancel and fill up the next ferry” scenario. A friend of mine used to work for them and hated the week after the festival as loads of massive lorries would turn up well before their booking times and create absolute chaos.
So, we have a C.E.O. who after a recent meeting with M.P.’s/Users etc said that they were proud to offer such a reliable service…
admit it Fran, your Lords and Masters are NOT INTERESTED in offering a reliable and cost effective (from the passenger’s perspective) service.
they have loaded Red Funnel with a mountain of debt and then utilise (hide behind) excuses such as ‘Yield Management’ to bump up the rates at busy times. Strange that they can still offer heavily discounted rates to Holiday Park and Hotels however.
Sorry, but you are just about as useless a Public Facing employee that there is. You NEVER accept that your services are far from acceptable as regards the End Users and always trot out the Company Line when there is the slightest hint of criticism.
it is well past time you went!
What’s the betting Fran has no previous experience of managing an essential public service? Has she worked her way up from the bottom and built up decades of experience, working on ships, is she a Chief Engineer or a Sea Captain or is she yet another clueless parachute artist with a degree in surfing or worse still, accountancy?
The Isle of Wight has several issues that need to be addressed:
1. Ferry crossings frequently break down, and the prices are excessively high.
2. Parking charges are also too expensive.
3. Just look at Sandown—many shops are boarded up, and hotels are in disrepair.
I could list more negatives, but the Isle of Wight has so much to offer and many positive aspects that are overshadowed by these issues.
Best regards,