The new working week is going to get off to a bad start for commuters as Red Funnel has had to cancel a number of morning and afternoon Red Jet sailings.
A lack of staff – or ‘limited crew availability’ – is being blamed for the disruption.
It has been confirmed that the 060:5, 07:15 and 08:25 sailings from Southampton have all been cancelled for Monday 16th December, alongside the 06:40, 07:50 and 09:00 sailings from West Cowes.
Furthermore, the 15:35, 16:45 and 17:55 sailings from Southampton have also been pulled alongside the 16:10, 17:20 and 18:30 return sailings from West Cowes.
There are some changes to the Red Jet timetable tonight (Sunday) too… the 21:05 from Southampton will depart at 21:30, and the 21:40 from West Cowes will depart at 22:05, to support football fans heading back to the Island from the Southampton FC match.
The 22:30 from the mainland will depart at 22:40, with the 22:05 from West Cowes departing 5 minutes later than planned.
Red Funnel apologies for any inconvenience.
Unreliable staff making for an unreliable service, and yet they want to be paid more? Yes, I know it’s not the only cause of the poor service, but it’s one of them.
‘strikes could take place once again if a new deal cannot be struck’
A tunnel could so easily be built on the island,
move the island into the 21st century.
There are many points where it is less than 1 mile
from the island to the mainland
The Chunnel took only 6 years to build and that
tunnel is 31.5 miles long.
Could be done easily in under 1 year.
Come on this is now gone beyond a joke, what is the actual excuse this time ? This is becoming unacceptable for the shambles WHO is taking responsibility ! This service is getting to be more regular than the actual timetable, & on Black Friday they put the fares up disgusting.
How are commuters and businesses supposed to run their day to day lives, It seems as if there is consistant operational issues with one or other of the cross solent operators, you wouldn’t mind but It costs a bloody fortune to travel with these pirates,
Lack of staff on a Monday, surprise Surprise.
It was a good weekend.
Lack of staff, yeah, all with bloody hangovers or just could not be bothered. If they are unreliable get rid of them. I understand that there are quite a few unemployed. If they are on benefits give them work. I would imagine that it would not tax their brains too much and if they sod and bugger about, stop their benefits. Wake up call. it really does need a tunnel and it is only impossible if the back hands stall. Remember the three handed watch, a big hand and a little hand and finally the good old back hand.
I believe any commuter who holds a annual pass should be credited back the amount of the fare back onto their bill. They’ll soon sort themselves out then if they are refunding people and losing their excessive profit.