UPDATED: Customers using Red Funnel’s East Cowes to Southampton service are facing a day of disruption due to a technical problem.
The cross-Solent company have already cancelled a number of sailings this morning (Monday) including the 09:45 and 12:45 from Southampton and the 11:15 and 14:15 from East Cowes. Those arriving at the terminals say queues are building and tempers are fraying.
It follows a number of cancellations yesterday which were also down to the technical issue, which Island Echo understands to be an engine problem.
The Hi-Speed Red Jet service is operating 10 minutes behind timetable due to high passenger numbers.
UPDATE @ 12:05 – Red Funnel have now cancelled the 15:45 and 18:45 sailings from Southampton and the 17:15 and 20:15 sailings from East Cowes.
UPDATE @ 17:38 – The cross-Solent operator have confirmed that they will be running a revised timetable on the East Cowes to Southampton route on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In a statement, a spokesperson has said:
“Following identification of exceptional vibration from one of the drive units, it has become necessary to remove the Red Eagle from service for 48 hours to address the issue. We will be in a position by 6pm on 30th December to confirm that the problem has been resolved and that the vessel will be available to return to service on 2nd January as scheduled.
Article continues below this advertisement “In the meantime the Red Falcon and Red Osprey will continue to operate a two boat service.
“All customers booked onto affected sailings have been contacted directly to ensure they are accommodated on an alternative crossing. Red Funnel apologises for any inconvenience caused. A further update will be issued by 6pm on 30th December”.
The revised timetable is as follows:
Southampton to East Cowes:
02:40; 04:05; 05:45; 07:15; 09:00; 10:30; 12:00; 13:30; 15:00; 16:30; 18:00; 19:30; 21:00; 22:30 & 23:55
East Cowes to Southampton:
01:20; 04:05; 05:30; 07:15; 09:00; 10:30; 12:00; 13:30; 15:00; 16:30; 18:00; 19:30; 21:00; 22:30 & 23:55
UPDATE WEDNESDAY @ 18:30 – Red Funnel are to resume a normal timetable tomorrow (New Years Eve), the company have confirmed.
A spokesperson has this evening said:
“Further to Red Eagle being taken out of service on 29th December to address the issue of exceptional vibration from one of the drive units, we are pleased to confirm that the problem has now been resolved, the vessel has completed sea trials and is now fully available for service.
“This will mean that from tomorrow (31st) all services will operate as scheduled. Additional sailings to the normal winter timetable will be operated on 2nd-3rd January as scheduled.
“Once again, we apologise to those customers inconvenienced over the past few days.”
