Hour-long delays on Wightlink’s Fishbourne-Portsmouth and Yarmouth-Lymington routes are causing disruption for those travelling across the Solent this morning (Saturday).
Wightlink is advising that it’s Fishbourne ferry service is operating with 60 minute delays, with the 07:00 sailing from the Island now due to depart at 08:00.
It’s thought that the withdrawal of Victoria of Wight overnight, due to a mechanical problem, has led to the delays today.
Meanwhile, the cross-Solent operator is also advising of 60 minute delays on the West Wight ferry service from Yarmouth. The 07:10 ferry is now due to depart at 08:10 – but the reason is unknown.
Customers are advised to still check in 30 minutes (or 15 minutes for foot passengers) before your scheduled sailing time.
UPDATE @ 13:45 – Wightlink is now advising of delays of up to 90 minutes.
Island Echo is told that traffic is bad in Portsmouth City Centre due to the sheer volume of ferry traffic backing up.
And i bet travellers don’t get a refund? This service years ago used to run like clockwork. New owners and lots of problems now.
It’s about time with this disruption occurring on the ferries and also the exorbitant charges that we have some fixed link . I am a bred and born caulkhead and proud of it if you had ask me a few years ago about a fixed link I would have said no
Agreed. Moved here 30 years ago, would never had said yes to a fixed link. 10 year ago you never had to worry about the ferries. I would just rock up and get on the next one. Never an issue. Now it’s like planning the d-day landings getting to the mainland. Maybe a fixed rail link? Also, last couple of years, more and more companies refuse to deliver to the island. One example, staples.
move back fred – quite simple
Mel i totaly agree with you this now has to stop for the sake of our siblings
What next Floating!!!!!!! Bridge Red Jet, Island trains Ban on Air travel next Solooks like have to buy a boat No NOT a bridge as no safe suitable area to have the end of it on Island and will have to be large to allow shiping to pass under. .possible Large Hovercraft..
Fixed link – problem solved. Usual inane rants and downvotes below please thank you.
Not so inane ……. go ahead and build it!
Good luck with the funding and trying to find somewhere to site both ends, especially on the mainland.
This time next year?
Plenty of room where the M27 is, also, plenty of room at the racecourse round about. The only argument against is cost. But what is it costing the island? More and more companies are refusing to ship to the island. And more and more companies are moving to the mainland as they just can not operate on the island any more. A friend is now sleeping in his van over night on the mainland as it costs to much to go home during the week. His family are not considering leaving the island they grew up on because the ferries companies have taken food from his kids plates.
drivel
P&O said that about the Channel tunnel, P&O said it will never happend ? you will always find funding
As a disabled person who uses a mobility scooter, I want to know why I cannot use the catamaran. I could travel on the Cat last year, what has chnaged?
Do you mean the wight link one? They are doing major refurbishment on the Portsmouth terminal, have to use stairs to get off the boat. I expect they are braking some laws but they do not give a F&$K.
instead of asking on a message board of island echo – why don’t you ask wightlink – they will tell you the reason and then it will all become clear – I know why, but I am not going to tell you
This company is, has been, and remains, an absolute disgrace. This is a half-term period, and, as usual, the management take great pride in creating excessive delays and cancellations for families paying in excess of £250 for return crossings (they boast children travel ‘free’, even though each booking covers up to seven passengers ), not to mention utter chaos in the streets of Portsmouth. And to cap it all -they don’t give a sh*t.
Has anyone bothered to look at the travel chaos on the mainland over this weekend?
Mile long queues at most airports, Motorways jammed, trains cancelled etc.
Good luck with the fixed link, it will just put you at the end of whatever queue you want to join a bit quicker….
i bet it never breaks down festival weekend .these ferry companies always puts profit before service WHY doesant Bob Seely do anything about it ? what we need is another ferry company like Virgin this will then give wigtlink and Red Funnel a run for thier money
no it won’t – there aren’t the berthing facilities available and the ferry companies put boats on where there is sufficient demand, otherwise you would be paying far higher prices for boats that run nearly empty. Don’t even talk about subsidies – as you will pay higher taxes, to compensate for operating loss making boat services.