Red Funnel has been shortlisted for ‘Ferry Operator of the Year’ at the prestigious National Transport Awards 2026, following recognition of its role in helping safeguard the future of the Daisy Ring Bus and supporting Isle of Wight residents travelling to the mainland for cancer treatment.
The shortlisting recognises Red Funnel’s role in helping safeguard the future of the Daisy Ring Bus, a community transport service that supports Isle of Wight residents travelling to the mainland for cancer treatment.
In summer 2025 it was announced that the service would be discontinued, meaning Islanders travelling to the mainland for vital cancer treatment would lose the final link in their journey to life-saving care.
Recognising the impact this would have, Red Funnel immediately got behind a community-led effort to re-establish the service, demonstrating that its role as a lifeline service extends far beyond the ferry crossing and into the communities it serves.
As well as supporting efforts to create a Community Interest Company (CIC), Red Funnel continues to work closely with Daisy Ring Bus, including provision of free parking at its Southampton terminal and free travel to help secure the service’s long-term future.
Red Funnel provides complimentary ferry travel for volunteer drivers, parking at its Southampton terminal, and works to ensure colleagues understand customer needs to offer support with discretion, care and understanding.
The company also ensures flexibility in bookings, recognising that treatment schedules can change at short notice and making sure that, at what can be a daunting time, there’s one less thing to worry about.
Red Funnel was shortlisted alongside other leading transport operators from across the UK, with winners due to be announced at the National Transport Awards ceremony in London on 1st October.
Fran Collins, Chief Executive of Red Funnel, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to have been shortlisted for Ferry Operator of the Year. This recognition reflects the dedication of colleagues across our business and the important role we play in supporting the communities we serve.
“As the Isle of Wight’s original ferry operator, we understand that our role is about much more than transporting people between the Island and the mainland. Every day we connect people with healthcare, education, employment, friends, family & loved ones, and opportunities that matter to them.
“Being recognised at a national level is a reflection of the dedication shown by colleagues across our business, and the strong partnerships we have built within our communities. We’re particularly pleased that our support of the Daisy Ring Bus formed part of the submission, as it shows that organisations which work together can make a real difference to people’s lives.”
The National Transport Awards is one of the UK’s most respected transport industry awards programmes, which celebrates excellence, innovation and customer service across the sector.
Well deserved much cheaper fares than the other
ferry operator.
Their book of tickets are much better value
than Wightlink.
Somthing aint right with your head mate
Ye he’s fucking mental.
Looking in the mirror at yourself whilst commenting
is not good for you.
Maybe you are suffering from numptyitus it is rife
on the island, bit like speeding is rife.
Bless you
Unbelievable
Doesn’t say much for others on shortlist,have they not seen the hundreds of complaints MP’s taking their “service”?to parliament for debate,The directors must have bought all the votes for this travesty to happen.
I thought this must be a wind-up at first! Red Funnel up for an award??!!! Great PR getting behind anything Cancer related, I guess…
You have got to be fucking joking utter made up bullshit made out so to look wonderful.Dreadful very expensive company.
This is an industry-sponsored award so a lot of self-congratulation to be expected. To qualify, contestants must demonstrate a “range of initiatives that the operator has been involved in to improve services and facilities.
Evidence of performance, passenger growth, customer satisfaction, marketing, carbon reduction.” The best RF can muster is support for the Daisy Bus, which, while very welcome, costs them nothing.
Bit of a joke, really.
Is this a joke?
Must be because of the Charridy do-gooding!
The escape from the marshalling yard in Southampton still takes up to an hour I hear!
They haven’t even got that dancing bloke there to keep you entertained while you wait to escape the yard.
Is it April, what a bloody joke, and really big slap in the face for island residents. They can’t win it surely, perhaps “Worst Ferry Operator 2026”
That is a joke…it has to be a total joke
Ha ha ha. How many thousands have they wasted on paying a PR company. Sounds like the awarding body needs a few emails sent to them!