Local MP Bob Seely has told bosses at Red Funnel that recent failings and needless disruption to passengers is unacceptable and has called for the cross-Solent operator to do more to address this.
In a recent meeting with Red Funnel’s CEO Fran Collins and Chairman Steve Ridgway, Mr Seely expressed the need for Islanders to have regular and reliable ferries which are cheaper than they are now.
He expressed his dismay about recent failings on the Red Jet service, stating that the needless disruption to passengers is unacceptable. He told the company bosses that passengers are fed up and that Red Funnel needs to do more to address this.
The MP has since added:
“On public service obligations, it shouldn’t be necessary for ferry operators to be pushed into public service obligations; they should voluntarily offer them. To do so would be a way of recognising their role as a lifeline service and buy them some badly needed credit with their passengers.”
It wasn’t all bad news though… Bob has welcomed some positive news from Red Funnel about how it’s making the fleet greener. He’s said:
“It’s great to hear about Red Funnel’s future plans for carbon-neutral car vessels, including their consideration of alternative fuels.
“I support this and I will do what I can to ensure the future infrastructure will be in place to make sure it happens, as these boats will need to be recharged or refuelled frequently.
Article continues below this advertisement “I am also pleased that they plan to build these boats in the UK. It would be great to see the Isle of Wight really leading the way with ‘green’ ferries.”
It’s not just Red Funnel under the spotlight, with the MP continuing to put pressure on Wightlink to extend its FastCat timetable. Mr Seely has said that 20:20 is not acceptable as the last FastCat to the Island:
“Wightlink too has made an important commitment to the environment by bringing the hybrid-powered Victoria of Wight into service, but here again the company needs to do more to improve services to its customers. I accept that passenger levels are not yet back to what they were, but that is not an excuse that has been used successfully by rail operators.
“I look forward to catching up with Wightlink soon”.
He’s putting pressure on Wight link….. and they’re quaking in their boots because they’ve responded so quickly to his requests….. NOT. They (The fat cats) don’t take any notice of customer complaints so they’re not going to take any notice of our so called M.P.with about as much clout as a wet lettuce leaf.
Smacks of pot, kettle, black to me. He hasn’t exactly excelled in his job so bit off to have a go at anyone else as they are answerable to their boards but who is he answerable to
I fully agree with you and was going to post something similar.
Bob: “RECENT FAILINGS ARE UNACCEPTABLE”
RF: “Is that your envelope on the table?”
Bob: “Carry on lads, good work”.
Well said Isla wight
Unfortunately this is going to fuel the debate for a tunnel or bridge link of which I am against but if ferry travel becomes unaffordable for the residents and only for wealthy it will be tragic,to travel on Queens Platinum week also a School half term the undisclosed ferry company asks for £96 out bound and return £109 for a 5 day excursion unfortunately no discount book available
It is already unaffordable for residents.
Yep your right, i used to be against bridge or tunnel but im all for it now, seems to be the only way forward that will enable people to travel when they want or on spur of the moment, none of which is possible with the ferries and the cost so the alternative is a no brainer
Cheapest and best way forward…. Nationalise the ferries!!
So then it is heavily subsidised by the tax payer who I am sure on a national level will love to fund cheaper travel for island residents.
WHAT, DO YOU MEAN LIKE THEY DO IN SCOTLAND ! In which we pay for ?
Probably not nationalisation (do we really want Bozo to have a finger in it?) but not-for-profit, community ownership makes sense.
Yes, Bring back SEA-LINK !
The whole point of public service obligations is that although operators should provide an acceptable service that doesn’t mean they will do so. Particularly if profits may be affected.
Shareholders will always come before customers, that’s just basic commerce.
Simply stating that the service is unacceptable won’t change that. Especially since he also seems to be saying that he has no intention of actually doing anything that would make them provide the service that they should but clearly don’t want to.
This is their current stance on public service obligations- “Unfortunately, UK regulations do not require Red Funnel to cover refunds or compensation for passengers’ onward travel, extra expenses or tickets to attractions or events that have been missed due to the delay/cancellations, this is because the Red Jets do not fall under the UK regulations for disrupted travel compensation rules because of their size and nature of the service”. If this doesnt smack of a lack of accountability, what does?
Bad news reds, But it is your/our fault/choice to live on an island.
You/we can not have our cake and eat it. May not seem fair at times but it is what it is.
And where does the money come from to pay for staff, fuel and other costs of operating under a public service obligation.?
Unless you can get a magic money tree, then higher ticket prices will be needed to pay for the costs of operating later services that no one uses.
Or, as is the case with Calmac in scotland – it is subsidised by the taxpayer, because the routes are not sustainable on their own.
If the isle of wight ferries are every subsidised, you can almost guarantee a “ferry levy” will be introduced by the council to cover some of the subsidy cost.
Don’t panic, Bob is on the case so all will be ok, just like he has done so many good things for the island. Oh hang on that must of been a dream…… anyone got any spare sausages. I think I’m over hungry and hallucinating.
Boat at 7 30 but not another one until 9am what is going on… Get a bridge built we’re all sick n tired of it