Lengthy delays are being experienced by customers using Red Funnel’s vehicle ferry service this afternoon (Friday), with some ferries set to depart 3 hours later than advertised. As previously reported by Island Echo, a technical issue on board Red Falcon forced the cancellation of 6 cross-Solent sailings. Red Funnel has now said that delays are worsening with some booked sailings given new departure times 2 hours after their original slot. It seems as though the East Cowes end of the service has bore the brunt of the issues with several sailings such as the 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30 and 17:30 are each now set to depart some 3 hours later than advertised. The cross-Solent operator is also citing the beginning of Cowes Week 2024 as another factor. Below is the latest revised timetable.
Departures from Southampton:
| Original Departure Time | New Departure Time |
| 14:00 | 16:00 |
| 15:00 | 17:00 |
| 16:00 | 18:00 |
| 17:00 | 19:00 |
| 18:00 | 20:00 |
| 19:00 | 20:00/21:00 |
| 20:00 | 21:00 |
| 21:00 | 21:00 |
| 22:00 | 22:00 |
| 23:59 | 23:59 |
Departures from East Cowes:
| Original Departure Time | New Departure Time |
| 12:30 | 15:30 |
| 13:30 | 16:30 |
| 14:30 | 17:30 |
| 15:30 | 18:30 |
| 16:30 | 19:30 |
| 17:30 | 20:30 |
| 18:30 | 20:30/21:30 |
| 19:30 | 21:30 |
| 20:30 | 22:30 |
| 21:30 | 22:30 |
| 22:30 | 22:30 |
| 23:30 | 23:30 |
UPDATE SATURDAY – Services are running to timetable today.
East Cowes packed with cars and disgruntled passengers – Waitrose car park is the unofficial waiting area. Most Cowes Week boats base themselves in mainland marinas such as Port Solent who offer much better facilities – boats and crews just come over to race, then go back to the mainland. So much for bringing business to the Island!
What’s the reason this time? Is the person who makes the tea and coffee sick
Your probably right
You’re probably right
Only in the signature lounge .. peasants make their own from a veining machine for £3.50 kerching £££ Red Funnel z. Profit over service
I would say it but I’m not allowed to certain people get upset
Appalling.. but no surprise from this part time ferry ( not for for purpose ) service provider ..
See the improvements rolling in now since I got elected. And things will only get better 10p off all fares from august. Half a sausage bob could not do this for you and don’t say 78days and counting.RICHARDIO QUIGLIO1 RED FUNNEL 0.
Surely Red Funnel need to look at age of stock Red Eagle was built in 1996 by Ferguson …..new stock please?
East Cowes is gridlocked – Waitrose is the unofficial waiting area. Most of the Cowes Week boats and crews now base themselves on the mainland, in marinas such as Port Solent, who offer far better facilities. They come over to race, then go back to the mainland. What benefit does this offer the Island?
So now they are trying to shift the blame for their shoddy service onto Cowes week. Pathetic liars.
How long does can this situation be allowed to continue, staffing issues, mechanical issues,and any other issues they can invent to not put on a service for customers who pay a lot of money for a two mile journey. Its gone past the must do better, needs improvement to being a down right embarassment
Where is the “2 mile journey ” ? That would only get as far as the breakwater.
Let’s hope Quigley and Robertson get this problem
sorted out.
Ferry Companies should be Fined heavily for not running a
proper service, they will soon solve their staffing problems
if they keep getting fined.
Useless B’stards
The ferry companies will kill off what is left of the Island’s tourist trade
This situation will continue until there’s a fixed link, because nothing else will make any difference. If anyone thinks otherwise then you are deluded
As reliable as the floating farce.
This apology for a company is run by accountants, who know nothing about running a ferry service; indeed they don’t understand the meaning of service. Accountants are the reason nothing in this country works any more. They know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Accountants see maintenance as an unnecessary expense to be avoided at all cost. They are incapable of understanding that maintenance is an essential prerequisite for operating any kind of machinery. Even when the result of their penny pinching slaps them in the face, they refuse to admit they don’t know what they are doing and persist in blindly blundering on, as their business collapses around them.
Are you saying poor ongoing maintenance is the issue ? Yes, I was told that by someone in a position to know as well !
Red Funnel and Wightlink must work together to produce the “Ferry Company Ladybird Book of Excuses”. It’s a very short book, lack of staff, mechanical issues, planned servicing etc. Get your acts together you useless apologies for ferry companies
Fraud Funnel just keeps getting better…