Red Funnel has announced that it is increasing its prices across the board by an average of 9.75% in response to rising costs.
The cross-Solent operator says that, like many businesses, they are experiencing the impact of inflation and the current economic crisis and in recent months have seen a dramatic rise in overheads.
Despite spiralling costs the published rates have remained the same but now, as part of an annual pricing review, Red Funnel says it is in the ‘unavoidable circumstance’ of having to change rates in order to protect the service and keep the business sustainable.
Effective for vehicle ferry bookings from tomorrow (Friday) – for travel dates as of 1st January 2023 – and effective from 3rd January 2023 for foot passengers, published rates are increasing across all types of travel by an average of 9.75%.
Foot passenger ticket books will continue to be available at the current 2022 prices for all bookings placed before Saturday 31st December 2022 and will be valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Any season tickets renewed before 31st December will also benefit from our 2022 pricing.
Reduced rates for Islanders attending mainland NHS appointments, Isle of Wight jobseekers, Blue Light cardholders, as well as those currently claiming Universal Credit, will continue. Blue Badge and Disabled Persons Railcard cardholders will also see their discount rise to 25% for travel originating from the Island.
All Island households will continue to receive regular discounts and offers through the Big Book of Savings, which can be shared with family and friends – although it is unclear what the new day return offer will be, having raised significantly in recent years.
The Island Resident offer, which will allow Islanders to save 15% when booking travel of any duration up to 30th October 2023 with no date restrictions, will also continue.
They shouldn’t be allowed to put the prices up until they can prove that they can run a service without delays, mechanical issues and lack of crew. As a daily commuter I’ve had to put up with delays on every crossing (7) so far this week.
Shouldn’t be allowed?
Who do you think is going to disallow it?
Red Funnel are a private enterprise and can do whatever they want. If they decided that jacking up fares by 50% was in the best interests of their business and their shareholders they can.
And there is not a thing you, or anyone else, can do about it.
Alright. I do know that. And that’s the problem, they don’t have answer to anyone, just look after their shareholders. I use it everyday. It’s people like me that have to pay more for a service that’s getting worse since Fran Collins took over.
Actually you are not totally correct, their have to have a licence to operate to the island which can be withdrawn or the council can ask for expressions of interest by other companies to run a service.
That licence is only dependent on them operating in accordance with marine safety and general health and safety.
It has no bearing on how frequently they operate their service of their fares.
I believe that Red Funnel own all of their vessels and port facilities, or lease them on a commercial basis. As such the Council is in no position to offer anything to anyone with regard to tendering to run the service. The Council have no power over any of the three ferry operators.
Time for a much needed fixed link, sadly as likely as a unicorn sighting in county hall.
Well that was expected after they got the pay rise they wanted
As a regular user of both Red Funnel services I actually feel that the customer facing services fully deserve their pay award as I have witnessed them having to bear the brunt of the frustrations of the traveling public who take it out on them rather than the useless money grabbing senior management. Come on Fran, let us know if you dare, what is your salary along with the probably top heavy senior management’s annual pay and while you’re at it how much was paid out to the fat cat shareholders. How about some investment in new reliable ferries and a proper timetable.
So its gone from an unreliable extortionate service too a totally unacceptably over the top exaughtionate unreliable service run by greedy people who pocket line and dont care about hard up islanders?
Excellent!
Use less people
Absolutely disgusting!
So will the service improve by 10%, I doubt it!!!
Hind head tunnel (four miles long, 8 minutes journey): Free
Red funnel (55 minute journey): Over £60 (and will be in 2023 £70+)
Are you sure you still don’t want a fixed link?
At this rate we’ll be paying much higher prices in the supermarket because it’ll cost them so much. Many delivery companies don’t do the island anymore because of costs. Soon there will be no way to buy something online and have it delivered on the island without paying throw the nose for postage.
No surprise when the company is run by the invisible women who don’t know what the meaning of maintenance is. They must be running out of sticking plasters for their ancient vessels.
Disgrace on Red funnel obviously.
But why do so many people choose to live/stay on an island to start with,
we are already overloaded with newcomers.
You can’t have the best of both worlds.
Suck it up or move.
It’s the newcomers who spend their hard earned money on items from local businesses and tradesmen therefore we are the ones who are keeping the island afloat. The island is part of the UK so we can live wherever we choose.
My point exactly !
So stop bloody moaning……….!
Totally rubbish statement we done quite well for hundreds of years in fact it was actually better
A Bridge or a Tunnel is the answer, only a matter of time and it will be
£100 for locals to cross the Solent (less than 5 miles) what a rip off.
Will that bridge or tunnel be next to your front door ??
My horse speaks more sense than you.
A Bridge or a Tunnel is the answer, only a matter of time and it will be
£100 for locals to cross the Solent (less than 5 miles) what a rip off
You think a bridge or tunnel would be any cheaper? The £billions it would cost, the investor would want their money back asap. The Govt have already made it clear they won’t invest.
If we were still in the EU grant funding was available, but the Island of Gammon voted to leave.
mark – it is absolutely pathetic that those that didn’t get their way in a democratic vote still resort to insulting the winners. Grow up will you and no, there wasn’t funding available and how long was this country shackled to that bureaucratic EU mess – Plenty of time to discuss a stupid tunnel.
Couldn’t agree more well said
Yes there was! The Connecting Europe Infrastructure funding scheme, available to any EU member! Jesus wept.
Well you can go from Dover to Calais through a tunnel, in your car for less than £35 RETURN. So I’m pretty sure our little tunnel could be equally well priced.
Very true.
This very small distance boat crossing is the most expensive crossing in the
World.
I wonder what Bob Seely’s thoughts are!
He can claim for his crossing on his expenses.
Nobody actually voted to join the EU in the first place
There was a vote actually the Labour gov had a national vote to see who wanted to go into Europe .and then ignored the result
Fantastic news! Fares rise by 10% while my salary increases by 3%. I’m thrilled.
Be grateful for 3%, I’ve not had any payrise for over 3 years
Unbelievable. Still as long as Bob Sealey’s relative and the other directors and shareholders keep their snouts in the trough it’ll be OK
Why are people bleating about the rises.
The energy bill must be huge plus wages. This is what happens when all the strikers want more money, the costs are passed on and nobody is better off. Except those on certain benefits who get 25% off subsidized by working people that receive no help
Trouble is I doubt that the actual cost of running the ferries actually comes into the pricing of tickets. Like most things these days, it’s not what it costs plus a reasonable profit but its rather more of how much you can get for it.
give it a day or two and wightlink will be doing the same.
Red funnel will soon be moaning about a lack of customers!!!!
But that is the problem!
They know people won’t or cannot boycott them because of essential travel for work / hospital treatments etc, so basically they have everyone by the short & curly’s
this will force more customers off the ferries then MORE ferry cancellations
BUILD A BRIDGE …. BUILD A BRIDGE…. BUILD A BRIDGE!!!!!!!
You pay for it, you pay for it, you pay for it
Boring, boring and even more boring
You will be dead by then
One of the most expensive ferry crossings in the world, £s per mile, has just become even more expensive
Like all Shareholder owned companies.
The Shareholder’s will not reduce the amount they get paid out in dividends.
As long as the average passenger (me included).Must use their Company and have no choice but to pay what ever the cost to see loved one’s go on holiday go to mainland medical appointments!!
Wouldn’t mind paying more if they looked after what they had. The service is interrupted regularly, which is damaging to people travelling for work.
I bet the shareholders don’t lose out. It’s high time that someone took this in hand & prevented those that rely on the service from getting a raw deal. The only outcome from this is that red funnel leak customers, economic business opportunities reduce for the island, in turn, red funnel will lose out, too. Poor decision, greed is a rampant wrecking ball.
Good hopefully stop people having holiday homes
Ridiculous the most expensive piece of water in the world to cross
And don’t believe their silly vouchers, as they don’t honour them! Just been charged for an added extra night on mainland when voucher states “one night or more”! Wrote to complain and been completely ignored. I will probably contact Trading Standards.
Spiralling costs??
I purchased a flat white coffee out of that machine on board, it was the smallest of the cup sizes & it only filled 2/3rds, (£3.25)
When I told the person on the till she shrugged her shoulders & said “that’s how they are”.
NEVER AGAIN Red funnel!!! Only thing missing from your uniforms are muskets & face masks.
Who cares
Your on an island thats the price pay it
Thier running a bussiness
I would make you pay more if it was my company
Move to mainland if it bothers you and take your own food and coffee with you
Well said.
If they wan’t to live here stop bloody moaning, or change jobs ect.
IMO The dearer the better.
No more f*****g IN-LAWS……….happy dayzzzz.
If the ferry is too expensive, the best bet is to get a job with Red Funnel, then you get free travel.
Problem solved
And I hear they’ve just had a pay rise!
Oh dear, well then if you don’t pay then you won’t travel, simple as that really.
Let’s get the road bridge built asap.
An absolute disgrace we are living in a world of high cost of living and they have the cheek to put fares up wrong u should be encouraging people us public transport not to deter the public away from public transport