Red Funnel has now published its winter timetable for the East Cowes vehicle ferry service, with confirmation of this year’s Christmas sailings.
The new timetable, which runs from 2nd November to 3rd March, is designed to allow Red Funnel to elevate its routine vessel maintenance during the winter, with the aim of sustaining service reliability. It means that the former 22:30 departure from Southampton and 22:55 from East Cowes have been removed, but with later evening sailings added to its Red Jet service.
The timetable will see Red Funnel’s services return closer to its pre-COVID 2019 schedule, with sailings approximately every 90 minutes.
The company recently announced an expanded Red Jet timetable, including additional late-night sailings including 21:35 and 22:55 departures from Southampton, along with 22:15 and 23:35 departures from West Cowes.
Red Funnel will offer a Christmas Day service once again this year, with 2 departures from each side of the Solent.
To see the winter timetable visit https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/isle-of-wight-ferry/timetables/.
Don’t know about red funnel predicting 2 sailing on Christmas Day when they can even guarantee next day service to run on time
Maybe if they had an extra boat then maintenance would not affect service. Ferry companies pushing for fixed link I bet. So they can win contract to build it, have government pay for it, then charge £40 a pop for something that costs next to nothing to run. We need to start demonstrating at the ferry ports. Demand a real ferry service. 20 years ago never had to book. Just could rock up and go. Barely an inconvenience. Now it’s like planning the D-day landings trying to get of the island.
To many people on such a small island,and also to many people on a slightly bigger island,it ain’t rocket.
Look at the number of people going to the island now compared to 20 years ago….so no wonder have to book when it’s busier than ever for tourists. If want to blame something blame that.
I can’t see how can get more sailings during the daytime when at a lot of the time it’s in and out at the ports.
Suggest you either demand less tourists or council build their own ferry route and boats.
Every ferry is late yesterday I was on the 09-30 to Southampton and when we got to dock the the red kestrel was loading up why don’t they build a separate loading and unloading ramp for this lorry boat it holds the car ferry up every time both sides of the Solent . Knick down that eyesore of and old pier and put a ramp in there there is room
it means that the former 22:30 departure from Southampton??? That sailing does not exist now so what are IE talking about its 21:00 from Southampton or 23:55
“with the aim of sustaining service reliability” – Please explain how you can “sustain” something that doesn’t exist in the first place. Presumably they mean even more ferry cancellations with no notice. They still haven’t even fixed account holders accounts after a year, so that you can redeem your rewards points online! Disgracefully woeful company.