Commuters have expressed their frustration over Red Funnel’s lack of communication following restricted travel for foot passengers on the 07:30 vehicle ferry sailing from East Cowes twice this week.
On both Monday and Tuesday, passengers turned up at the East Cowes terminal to find that the 07:30 sailing to Southampton had ‘limited passenger capacity’, with those hoping to travel directed to the Red Jet in West Cowes instead.
However, those disrupted by the last-minute change say that they couldn’t make it around to the 07:35 Red Jet sailing in time and therefore either arrived late for work or had to turn back and work from home instead.
Red Funnel has said that a lack of staff and increased demand led to the decision earlier this week, but that sailings have now returned to normal.
Fran Collins, Chief Executive of Red Funnel, has said:
“We recognise the essential role we have in providing an efficient and reliable service for passengers, and would like to apologise for the disruption passengers experienced on the 07:30 sailing from East Cowes yesterday and the day before.”
Obviously Red Funnel ( and the other companies) are not interested in Isle of Wight citizens, they only care about people coming to the Island.. and getting back to mainland. Just look at the ferry times.. can leave mainland 05:30 But cannot get off the Island that early..
that is because the boats are parked up over night in southampton – it doesn’t take a genius to work out, that the boat has to leave southampton first to get to the island and as such, cannot possibly leave the island earlier than from the mainland.
Oh excuse me genius NOT … BUT they could have one leave Southampton EMPTY, as the crew and cleaners etc., sort out they boat whilst coming across , so those that need early morning trains to get to work, can be on time.. but as I stated, they do not care about Islanders..
Some things were better years ago. Ferries would wait for the trains to arrive at Lymington, Ryde an d Portsmouth. Know it is not Red Funnel but last week travelling back to the island by train arrived at Lymington 4 minutes after the 618.55pm ferry departed meaning an one hour and five minute wait for the last ferry at 20.05. Feedback to Wightlink asking if they could just wait 5 minutes (and get some good press for a change) prompted a response saying they couldn’t but said they did give their ferry timetables to the train companies – so National Rail could change their timings. .
there are so many trains that arrive at Portsmouth harbour, it would be impossible for the fastcat timetable to meet them all – therefore, wightlink run a service that is designed around expected demand and not the rail services.
Lymington isn’t Pompey, didn’t you read the post or once again you just agreeing with the mainland ferry companies and all your mates on the board of directors?
nipper – please read the post yourself before making yourself look daft..
quote from article..Ferries would wait for the trains to arrive at Lymington, Ryde an d Portsmouth.
There is a train to link lymington also
Obvious you have never taken the train down from London, just to find out the ferry left five minutes before you got there.. nice boring long wait…
No one expects the boat to wait for all the trains, but years ago the ferry did use to wait for the London trains
Had this problem so many times while travelling….its ridiculous the ferry doesn’t meet up with the trains ….
A big problem that sadly no one in transport seems to give a hoot about
Love to have your clock… but, what time in our world is 618.55pm ?
Staffing problems happen buy RF’s total failure to communicate is inexcusable.
They text if the ferry is cancelled so why not in this case – for those turned away it might as well have been cancelled after all.
A response I have seen just hid behind the excuse of safety whilst totally missing the point about their need to communicate to those who have no choice but to rely on the service they provide in order to get to work.
Love the high-quality information board that looks like a child has been let loose with a crayon!
That’s what happens people when businesses are privatized – it’s all about the profit, not about the service
This is what a fixed link is required
can’t really moan most of you as you don’t want a bridge so suck it up
Defeatists please queue here.
Fran Collins needs to hold a meet the managers meeting here on the island so those that do commute can have a face to face with her about her skills a the top dog and why we always have to suffer. I never wanted a fixed link but i have had a change of heart after covid etc and all the excuses used. I would say if they do not sort themselves out central government will make a fixed link happen with no consultation. The problem we will have is not the islanders it will be if those on the south coast want riff raff from here penetrating their towns and cities with all of our problems.
Maybe the government could make a compulsory purchase order and take the service back! Probably cheaper than a fixed link
wont’ change anything- same boats, same people, same equipment – all you would have is a council overseer that gets elected every few years, who would make the same apologies for the same problems.
public ownership isn’t a cure all – it breeds complacency as people get paid by the taxpayer – therefore no incentive to bother working hard at all.
Well the Fastcat from Ryde won`t have to wait for the train before sailing as
the train is not going to the end of the pier when they start running again ..!!
It is
Get rid of this Chief Exec. All she cares about is profits for the share holders
Sack the management….NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
NO MORE EXCUSES