Red Funnel has confirmed that its hi-speed Red Jet service will be operating with just 1 boat until at least Tuesday 8th February.
With Red Jet 7 out of action for annual maintenance, the older Red Jet 4 was brought into play to maintain a 2-boat service between West Cowes and Southampton. However, Red Jet 4 has removed from service after a high pressure alarm was activated on the starboard engine last week.
Red Funnel says that engineers have been working hard to resolve the issue and are currently awaiting the delivery of specialist parts to allow them to fully repair the vessel.
As a result, a 1-boat service will continue with the reduced timetable now staying in operation until at least Tuesday 8th February. It was initially hoped that the service would return to normal from tomorrow.
Leanna Lakes, Operations Director at Red Funnel, has said:
“Whilst work is still ongoing and, to provide certainty for passengers making travel arrangements, we will be extending our reduced timetable this week on Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd, Friday 4th, Saturday 5th and Monday 7th February. Our Sunday sailings will remain as scheduled.
“We apologise for any difficulties this may cause to customer journeys and would like to thank them for their patience during this time. We are working towards resuming our normal timetable as quickly and as safely as possible.
“We encourage customers to plan ahead by checking the live departures on our website. Customers may also consider using our vehicle ferries as an alternative option, which are currently running to timetable.”
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Scheduled Red Jet sailings from Southampton for Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd, Friday 4th and Monday 7th are now as follows:
05:35, 06:55, 08:15, 09:35, 10:55, 12:15, 13:35, 14:55, 16:15, 17:35, 18:55, 20:15, 21:35, 22:55
Scheduled Red Jet sailings from West Cowes for Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd, Friday 4th and Monday 7th are now as follows:
06:15, 07:35, 08:55, 10:15, 11:35, 12:55, 14:15, 15:35, 16:55, 18:15, 19:35, 20:55, 22:15, 23:35
Scheduled Red Jet sailings from Southampton for Saturday 5th are now as follows:
06:55, 08:15, 09:35, 10:55, 12:15, 13:35, 14:55, 16:15, 17:35, 18:55, 20:15, 21:35, 22:55
Scheduled Red Jet sailings from West Cowes for Saturday 5th are now as follows:
07:35, 08:55, 10:15, 11:35, 12:55, 14:15, 15:35, 16:55, 18:15, 19:35, 20:55, 22:15, 23:35
Bet the daily commuters, season ticket holders, hospital patients, students etc can’t wait. Maybe they should think about backing the fixed link and donating to the viability study, that needs to be performed now. Me & my family have donated, as we are fed up of the unreliable, expensive ferries. The solent freedom tunnel website has all the details of the study
I wonder if the Gosport ferry has similar problems to our island one’s ?