Red Funnel have been forced to cancel a number of vehicle ferry and hi-speed sailings this morning (Tuesday), with delays also being experienced on the operator’s cross-Solent services.
Earlier this morning, the 05:00 car ferry sailing from Southampton was cancelled for operational reasons, as well as the return 06:30 sailing from East Cowes.
Now, the 06:45 Red Jet from West Cowes has also been cancelled alongside the 07:15 from Southampton and the 07:45 from West Cowes. Technical issues are being blamed.
The operational reasons continue to hamper the vehicle ferry service with delays of 15 minutes on the 08:00 Southampton to East Cowes and the 09:30 return.
It is unknown at this stage if there will be any further cancellations or delays.
UPDATE @ 08:05 – Red Funnel are now running a one-boat service on their Red Jet route, with departures from West Cowes at XX:15 and Southampton at XX:45.
The 08:15 Red Jet from Southampton to West Cowes has been cancelled.
UPDATE @ 11:57 – The 12:15 Red Jet sailing from Southampton and the 12:45 from West Cowes have both been cancelled.
UPDATE @ 13:15 – Due to the ongoing technical issue, Red Funnel have now cancelled the 15:15 sailing from Southampton and the 15:45 return from West Cowes.
Check back soon for any updates.
Again….
Thanks to these operators you can’t plan nothing
. Someone has already said, funny the boats go out of service where it’s a slow day for the operators.
Fix link had my vote now. Had enough of being let down by then all.
yes they can’t do anything or run on time
Some thing has to be done the ferry companies are letting the local people down it’s a night mare organising holiday
In the past I have always supported Red Funnel services and considered they provide a reasonable service but over the last couple of years or so it does seem to be a case of profit over service provision. Surely they realise that cancellation of a sailing can and does impact quite seriously on their customers.
It can’t be rocket science to always have a contingency plan in place for when there is a problem!
so have I
So how much do they save in diesel costs by no running compared to just ticking over at dock.
The management of the Ferry companies do not care about the customers or their lives or the impact their failing service and poorly maintained boats have on ordinary people. The marketing is smoke and mirrors. They are owned by large investment/pension funds. Each year they are told to deliver a profit number to the shareholders. Doesn’t matter how as long as its safe and legal. Nothing is going to happen in the short term as too many people are connected to each other Directors of Ferry Companies/Council/M.P etc etc Lots of ahem, back scratching.
The best way to solve this is for the Islanders to join forces in a co-ordinated way. Maybe you do or you don’t want a fixed link. But there could be other solutions like for example an independent regulator with residents on the board to monitor the performance, price and service levels. And where appropriate hit them where it hurts in the shareholders pockets for poor performance with fines and if necessary the ultimate threat of losing the route.
If you don’t like move to the mainland!!
I have a house on the mainland and the Island. I split my time between the two. It’s not about what people like it’s about normalizing a key transport link for Islanders and mainlanders who want to travel between the two. The Isle of Wight gets a poor deal from the ferry companies with political support from the council, M.P and others of influence. If it carries on the Islands average age will just go up and up and the businesses will not invest or create jobs. The shops will continue to empty. Maybe that suits you West Wighter but it does not suit everyone and is not good for the Islands long term prosperity.
the island does not need nor want a fixed link.
This is a small island of outstanding natural beauty. You either have a nice, quiet Island, as it is, or the whole place continually built on and made to be as congested as Ryde and Newport all the time.
There is no desire for any mainland county to have the exit/entrance ramp for a bridge or tunnel to the island, with the associated bottleneck of cars and people, clogging up their towns. They do not want it either.
The islands roads cannot cope with the ferries unloading each time, let alone a constant stream of traffic all day.
It is people who have a second home on the island and living elsewhere, who are a big problem – as they have an empty
property, which is not contributing to the local economy every day, as someone who lives here all the time does -NICK.
What a load of rubbish
typical answer from a person that comes from west wight
yes, they should. They want to live on a cheaper and quieter Island, yet expect it to be like the mainland.
The ferries that people are always bad mouthing are operating and they can pack their things and leave whenever they are ready.
Moron
They do not retain enough staff, one goes sick and they cannot call in a replacement so they cancel services. Would have never happened a few years ago
if you have on call staff, who may or may not work and being paid, then where does the money for the extra wage bill come from?
Higher ticket prices, that is where it comes from.
Maybe if the share owners took less money out and put some back into the business might help ?
instead of impersonating me, perhaps you use your own alias and step up to the plate with your comments.
At a time when the island needs to maximise it’s holiday traffic to support local companies, access to the island is in disarray. If we had reliable and affordable ferry services then I would not be interested in a fixed link. I am left with just one conclusion, as unpalatable it may be for some, we need a fixed link. :-/
No we don’t.
It costs about £15-£24, depending on which ferry you use, for an adult day return – you think a fixed link would be any cheaper – you are living in a dream world.
People who commute on wightlink are paying £1780 for a yearly season ticket.
If you travel mon-fri, 48 weeks of the year (four for annual leave) and twice a day, that equates to £3.70 per trip. You reckon
any fixed link would be cheaper – HA HA HA Yeah right – have a think about it will you – it is £3.75 one way on the bus to newport from Ryde.
Its not about the price of the crossing, although at times they are eye watering. Isnt it about being able to ensure the Island is here for everyone in the future, there is opportunity for investment and the areas of natural beauty are available, maintained and are as accessible as possible for all? What it is about is choice, on the Island we can choose between Waitrose and Lidl, 5 star hotels and camping under the stars and top quality restaurants and KFC. But to get to our Island we have no choice. For me a Fixed Link would ensure the Ferry companies stayed honest, investing profits in improving their asests and improving the customer experience. In 2019 its no longer acceptable that we do not have a realistic choice to cross the solent, its simply time that we did.
the island has been here for millennia. Unless you are completely clueless, you will have realised that a small island like this, has a finite amount of space and its infrastructure cannot be expanded to accommodate more cars and people. You have a choice, three different ferry operators.
and who do you think has the cash to fund, such a large scale development for a fixed link – non other than the infrastructure funds that own red funnel and wightlink – they will want a decent return on any investment.
There will not be any fixed link any time soon – you know it and I know it.
None Given, absolutey you have worded that amazing well done.
Keep the island an island, no fixed link and to you all that don’t like it , if you’re not an islander so therefore you have no say!!
So I suggest you return………….
No transportation company like letting anyone down, but things happen. It maybe an inconvenience, but safety of crew’s and public is the most important thing. Red Funnel do an amazing job, people need to respect the staff. Nobody wants to be the cause of issues, but sometimes things go wrong…
No, they fail far too often.
If Red Funnel can’t maintain a timetable during Cowes Week with the whole world watching they should certainly sell the business to a company who understands what it means to provide a service. You just cannot rely on them.
I think you might find the true reason is a lot of the management are sailing at Cowes week – they have at least one yacht fully branded as Red Funnel!!! No doubt ferry fares will be increased next year to cover the charter costs
Or maybe they are treating their customers to a weeks sailing in Cowes week – Ha Ha
I am a type one diabetic and I got caught in a 5 hour traffic jam on my way home back to the island and when I got to the Southampton dock I needed to get some thing to eat and drink quick as I used what I had in the traffic jam. All the machines was not working no coffee shop open. I ended up having a hypoglycaemic event lucky for me a lady gave me some sugary drink and a mars bar ( thank you so much for your help)
I then contacted red Funnel about this I get a poor excuse of a apology. I thought no this isn’t right so called and spoke to two people one of which was meant to be customer care manager ( Michelle) when she said it’s my own fault I had nothing left with me. So apparently if you get caught in a huge tail back your your own fault. But if you turn up late to for your crossing you would be charged for another booking. Nice to know wet flannel are grand with Customer care and clearly never hear of the equality act 2010. Sorry for the rant guy but I thought you guys should know what we have to put up with.
it is not red funnels job to provide you with food and drink – take responsibility for yourself and plan for any delays.
Red funnel is a ferry operator, not social services or the NHS.
The equality act does not entitle you to free food and drink from a service provider. After you exited the traffic jam, why didn’t you stop off at a shop in southampton and buy something, to ensure you had that possibility of a hypo covered.
If you’re that surely you would keep emergency food drink etc!!
Common sense mate
How frustrating that 2 people on this link think they speak for the island. Red funnels car ferries are ageing year by year with no sight of investment. They’ve been made bigger and heavier with out any engine upgrade. Coming from someone who has lived on the island all their life and watching it fall apart is quite sad to be fair. A fixed link is required sooner rather than later.
how frustrating that some others on this link think they speak for the island. no fixed link.